SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect launches global webinar series on Sierra Leone and diaspora ties

SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect has announced a five-part webinar series starting Sept. 24 to explore Sierra Leone’s history, culture, development and investment prospects. The series will also preview a March 2027 Heritage and Legacy Tour and a new documentary effort aimed at linking Sierra Leone with African-descended communities across the Atlantic world.

Why it matters: - The series is designed to turn heritage into action by linking cultural identity with education, tourism, community development and investment. - SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect is using the webinars to build a wider network of diaspora participants around Sierra Leone’s future, not just its past. - The effort also tees up a March 2027 heritage tour that is intended to channel attention and spending toward local communities, including historic Tasso Island.

What happened: - SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect announced a five-part global webinar series under the theme “One Heritage. Many Stories. A Shared Future.” - The first session is set for Sept. 24 and will focus on the ties among Sierra Leoneans, the Gullah Geechee, Black Loyalists of Nova Scotia, Jamaican Maroons and Krio descendants. - The webinars are free and open to the public. - Registration is available at the webinar page.

The details: - The full 2026 webinar schedule runs Sept. 24, Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10. - Sept. 24: “Culture as a Connector — Sierra Leone, Gullah Geechee, Black Loyalists, Maroons, and Krio.” - Oct. 15: “Education & Digitalization — The Engine of Personal Growth and National Transformation.” - Nov. 5: “Agriculture, Health & Foodways — Eating Well. Living Well.” - Nov. 19: “Homecoming With Purpose — Sierra Leone. Honor Heritage. Build Legacy.” - Dec. 10: “Investing in Sierra Leone — Turning Heritage into Shared Success.” - The series will examine how education, digitalization, agriculture, health, cultural tourism and diaspora investment can support Sierra Leone’s development. - The lineup includes historians, cultural stewards, government representatives, educators, entrepreneurs, investors and African Diaspora members from Sierra Leone, the United States, Canada, Jamaica and the United Kingdom. - Marva L. Goldsmith, co-founder of SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect, said the goal is to help participants build relationships, support locally led initiatives, explore investment opportunities and become part of a shared legacy. - The webinars are scheduled for 19:00–20:30 GMT on all five dates, with local times varying by session.

Between the lines: - The webinar series blends cultural memory with economic development, signaling a push to frame diaspora engagement as both identity work and practical nation-building. - The planned documentary, “Bridging Freedom,” extends that strategy by connecting Sierra Leone’s story to Black Atlantic communities in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. - The emphasis on sacred artifacts, Freedom Day and historic sites suggests SADC is aiming for programming that is both symbolic and destination-driven.

What's next: - SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect says the webinar series will culminate in an invitation to its 10-Day Heritage and Legacy Tour, scheduled for March 7–16, 2027. - The tour is expected to include visits to historic sites, meetings with local leaders, celebrations of Freedom Day and opportunities to explore business and investment pathways. - Every deposit collected for the tour will support residents of Tasso Island, which has more than 5,000 people. - SADC is seeking sponsors, funding partners and collaborators for the documentary project. - Interested organizations and individuals can reach the group through its website or by emailing info@sierrafricanetwork.com.

The bottom line: - SierrAfrica Diaspora Connect is building a yearlong pipeline from cultural education to travel, investment and documentary storytelling, all centered on Sierra Leone’s global diaspora connections.