Sizzla Kalonji and Christopher Martin to Headline Sierra Leone’s First-Ever One Nation Reggae Festival

Sierra Leone is set to pulse with reggae rhythms and Caribbean energy next month as the One Nation Reggae Festival makes its historic debut from November 25 to 30, 2025. Headlined by Jamaican reggae powerhouses Sizzla Kalonji and Christopher Martin, the six-day event will unite top artists from Jamaica and Africa in a groundbreaking celebration of music, history, and heritage — marking the first major reggae festival of its kind on the African continent.

Officially launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs on October 17, the festival is being hailed as more than a concert — it’s a cultural movement. “This is not just a concert. It’s a movement that celebrates our identity, freedom, and unity,” said Tourism Minister Nabeela Farida Tunis, who described the event as a bridge reconnecting Africa and the Caribbean through the power of reggae. The lineup also includes Jah Thunder, Didier Awadi, Arkane, and Sierra Leone’s own reggae stars, with a week of concerts, heritage tours, and creative workshops designed to uplift and inspire.

Members of the One Nation Reggae Festival Organising Committee

Each day of the festival offers a different experience — from the Freedom Heritage Tour, retracing the nation’s ties to the transatlantic slave trade, to the Music Clinic and Industry Exchange, where local and international producers will collaborate to develop a uniquely Sierra Leonean reggae sound. The highlight comes on November 28 with the Main Reggae Concert at Sugar Land Beach, promising a night of high-energy performances celebrating love, peace, and unity. The emotional finale will take place on November 30 at Bunce Island, one of West Africa’s most significant slave trade sites, where an All-White Heritage Celebration will honor the memory of enslaved Africans taken from Sierra Leone centuries ago.

Tourism Director Mohamed Jalloh praised the initiative as “a bold step in bridging Africa and the Caribbean through music and creativity,” recalling how his visit to Jamaica felt like “coming home.” Meanwhile, rising local stars like Dallas Bantan are helping build anticipation through weekly reggae shows leading up to the main event. The festival is expected to attract international tourists, investors, and music lovers eager to witness the cultural reconnection in real time.

As anticipation builds, the One Nation Reggae Festival stands as a powerful reminder that reggae’s heartbeat is universal — echoing across oceans, generations, and cultures under one message: One Nation, One Love, One Vibe.