By- Musa Kwegoh Sowa, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
The Honourable Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, on the 2nd of November, 2026, engaged key stakeholders and leaders of the entertainment industry as preparations intensify for the 2026 Civic Festival, scheduled for 9-11 December 2026.
The meeting, held at the Minister’s office, provided an opportunity for the Minister to acknowledge the contributions of entertainment industry stakeholders and present the Ministry’s proposed plans and framework for this year’s Civic Festival.
Welcoming the stakeholders, Minister Bah expressed appreciation for their continued contributions to the growth of Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry and their willingness to support the Civic Festival.
He announced that this year’s Civic Festival Concert would take a different approach, with a special focus on celebrating the life, legacy and contributions of renowned entertainment figure Jimmy B.
According to the Minister, the concert will honour Jimmy B’s longstanding contributions to the industry while marking his return to the stage after an extended absence.
He envisioned a memorable evening featuring performances by various entertainers, who would join Jimmy B on stage to perform some of his iconic songs in recognition of his dedication and influence in shaping Sierra Leone’s entertainment landscape.
Three-Day Civic Festival Programme
The Minister further outlined that the 2026 Civic Festival would be a three-day event, with each day dedicated to specific activities.
The first day will feature the official opening ceremony, which will be graced by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. The President is also expected to tour the various booths and exhibitions organised by different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The second day will feature a series of activities, including town hall meetings, debates, quiz and theatre performances.
A dedicated town hall meeting will also be organised for the entertainment industry to deliberate on its current state, challenges and opportunities for growth. The Minister called on the Entertainment Ambassador and Peace Ambassador to take the lead in coordinating the industry’s participation and work closely with the Ministry to ensure the successful delivery of the engagement.
The third day will be dedicated entirely to the grand Civic Festival Concert in honour of Jimmy B. Different artistes will take to the stage to perform one or two of his songs as a tribute to his remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry.
Minister Chernor Bah also announced a slight adjustment to the dates of the 2026 Civic Festival. Initially scheduled for 10–12 December 2026, the festival will now take place from 9–11 December 2026.
Entertainment industry stakeholders present at the meeting warmly welcomed the initiative and commended the Minister for conceiving what they described as a brilliant idea to celebrate one of their own.
They expressed appreciation for the recognition of Jimmy B’s contributions to the industry and reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure the success of the festival.
The stakeholders also shared practical suggestions on how the Ministry and the entertainment industry could strengthen their collaboration, promote the festival and deliver a memorable concert befitting the legacy of Jimmy B.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment to work together in making the 2026 Civic Festival a success and ensuring that the entertainment industry plays a central role in its planning and execution.
