Description: The first couple of minutes of film are made up of very short clips of Sierra Leonean people in a variety of locations in Southwark, very short sound bites about Sierra Leone and black and white footage of Sierra Leone e.g. women in traditional dress singing, people talking about studying, a man singing and playing guitar, shots of Sierra Leonean businesses, talking about not being able to get a job in the UK.

1’45” Narrator talks about meeting extraordinary people, saying that Southwark residents that were in Sierra Leone to celebrate independence in April 1961, are the primary sources for the film. Contributor says thinking about it still gives her goose bumps.

2’28” Shot of a sign outside a building saying ‘Today 3-6. Looking for Sierra Leone’. Clips of a workshop on 23rd February 2011 at South London Gallery. People brainstorming ideas about Sierra Leone for the film. They place post it notes on a map of the country. Contributor talks about ideas of freedom being placed around Freetown on the map as this was where the first freed slaves settled.

3’19” ‘We shared thoughts on what we felt defines Sierra Leone’. People mention diamonds, music, identity, language, black cap (?), traditions, drugs, drums, money, values, war, Charles Taylor, police, hospital, freedom.

4’01” Research and Filming – 24th February 2011, Peckham. Short clips of relevant locations. Then ‘In the backroom at Bakks’, people watch film about Sir Maurice Dorman being sworn in as Governor General of Sierra Leone after Independence day in 1961.

4’29” ‘What do you know about Sierra Leone?’ Contributors shot around Peckham say things from: everyone from there is happy about what is going on there in terms of peace and stability; that there are huge natural resources; that there was displacement after the war; that it is the best country on the planet003B that the people haven’t seen the benefit since independence. Contributor talks about being born in the rural area of Kenema where his parents were diamond traders and that is the trade he knew.

6’08” Young boy talks about people being asked about their views on Sierra Leone in Paramount Kitchen. Contributor says he has never been to Freetown but has heard that it is progressive and developing.

6’53” ‘When you think of Sierra Leone, what comes into your mind?’ Contributors mention a lot of compassion and sympathy for the people, the poverty, corruption, how President Koroma is doing, the judiciary, disparity between rich and poor. 9’ ‘Do you think Sierra Leone is rich?’ Contributors mention that it is rich in natural resources and that it is rich in terms of GDP; about judging richness in terms of longevity; that wealth is being squandered and resources misused; that the county is a victim of war, colonialism and exploitation by foreign investors; that the people are poor. Contributor (who is a legal advisor)states that Sierra Leone could be one of the richest countries in the world and hopefully the government and people will start to utilise the rich resources. The filmmaker asks if he only sees the positive side and he says no that he sees many families where members have been killed, mutilated, raped but that people are trying to rebuild the past and make Sierra Leone a tourist destination and it helps if people have a positive image of it.

11’42” Shot of road sign of Choumert Road SE15. Shot of Krootown Road Market in Peckham selling West African groceries. Contributor says there is an area of Freetown called Krootown Road and so people from that area go to Krootown Road Market in Peckham to relax and eat.

12’25” ‘Further research’ 14 April 2001, visit to the BBC archives. Shots of BBC Television Centre. BBC employee talks about the archive. People watch Sierra Leonean archive material. Contributor says that wherever you grow up in Sierra Leone you still know there was war and corruption and it’s your choice whether you talk about this. Shot outside South London Gallery.

13’45” ‘Celebrating Independence’ 15th April 2011, South London Gallery. Sierra Leonean women gather and sing, some in traditional dress. Contributor says that Sierra Leonean women are very supportive of each other. Aisha, acting chair for Bombali District Association, Southwark talks about the group supporting the elderly and being sponsored by Southwark council. Contributors talk about people in Sierra Leone still talk about the queen being ‘our mother’ even though it is now independent and continuing views about British royalty. Shots of singing and people enjoying Sierra Leonean food.

16’52” ‘Reflections’ April 2011, Southwark. People talk about going whether they would want to go back to Sierra Leone to live or visit. Contributor talks about need to bring back the trains and the decline of the country since the trains were stopped in 1974.

19’54” The filmmakers talks to various people about what they think about the project. One of the filmmakers talks about the endurance, courage and bravery of the people of Sierra Leone and that that isn’t something you generally think about. Contributor talks about the country having become dependent on importing food and aid when it used to export it.