The Sierra Leone High Commission in the United Kingdom, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr Morie Komba Manyeh, was joined by members of the Limba community and supporters on the evening of Saturday 15 August 2026 to mark the 10th anniversary of Mabohanday UK&I. The milestone event was held at the Selby Centre in North London and brought together community leaders, chapter heads and well-wishers for an evening of cultural display, solidarity and reflections on a decade of charitable work.
The rich cultural heritage of Limba was celebrated in a vibrant programme witnessed in a packed hall. Traditional costumes were showcased, dance troupes also performed mesmerising dances, and the mystical Matorma masquerade lent a dramatic and spiritual touch to the celebrations. One of the highlights of the evening was the formal installation of Chief Dino Samura as the Mabohanday UK&I Tribal Chief, which highlighted the organization’s cultural roots and community recognition.
In his address, Dr Manyeh commended Mabohanday UK&I for a well-organised event and praised the Limba community for being resilient and peaceful. He said Sierra Leoneans from different ethnic backgrounds are very close to each other and cited his own close relationship with the Limba community as an example of unity that goes beyond ethnic identity. Dr Manyeh urged Sierra Leoneans to look beyond superficial differences, saying, “I believe that no man should be judged adversely by the colour of the clothes he wears or the shape of the shoes on his feet.” He also issued a pointed reminder on the prerequisites for progress: “We can’t have development without peace, and we can’t have peace without unity.”
The High Commission was also represented at the anniversary by Deputy High Commissioner Mrs Yvonne King Odigboh and Head of Chancery Mrs Juliana Sia Hawa Fallah, highlighting the mission’s support for diaspora community projects. Their presence reaffirmed the message that the Sierra Leone state recognises the role of cultural organisations in promoting national cohesion and the welfare of citizens abroad.
Mabohanday UK&I, which means “coming together” in the Limba language, celebrated its tenth year with a reflection on both cultural celebration and community service. Mr Lamin Bangura, Chairman of Mabohanday UK&I, stressed that the organisation was non-political, and that its main aims were to unite people, promote unity, celebrate Limba culture and to help communities in charitable and educational programs. He said Mabohanday has, over the past decade, been supporting schools with donations of books, giving scholarships to students, helping build community water wells and supplying medical materials to hospitals.
Representatives from the wider network of the organisation attended the anniversary, with chapter heads from Mabohanday’s 11 chapters present at the event, highlighting the group’s reach across communities in the UK and Ireland and their shared commitment to unity and service.
The cultural program of the evening – traditional dress, dance and masquerade – was interspersed with testimonials and presentations that highlighted the charity work the organisation has done. The reunion was a chance for participants to reconnect, plan future activities and celebrate the group’s accomplishments in education, health and community infrastructure.
For many in attendance, the celebrations were both celebratory and contemplative. Speeches from community leaders and the High Commissioner marked the appointment of Chief Dino Samura as Tribal Chief, according to Limba tradition, projecting a forward-looking message about Sierra Leone’s potential when diaspora communities work together across ethnic divides.
With the event coming to an end, the organisers and guests reiterated the main message of the night: when Sierra Leone’s diversity is met with mutual respect and collective action, it becomes a source of strength to drive peace, unity and development at home and in the diaspora. The anniversary was therefore not only a celebration of a decade of Mabohanday UK&I, but a reaffirmation of its work in cultural preservation, community building and charitable service for the years to come.
