SLAJ President Launches The Aged Times in Freetown
In a heartfelt and symbolic ceremony held on Monday, 28th July 2025, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, officially launched the maiden edition of The Aged Times magazine. The event took place at the Ministry of Social Welfare’s Conference Room in New England Ville, Freetown, bringing together advocates, journalists, and members of civil society to witness a milestone in media coverage for Sierra Leone’s elderly population.
Addressing the audience, Kamara opened his remarks with gratitude and pride. He described the launch of The Aged Times as a defining moment in the nation’s media landscape, one that places focus on a group often overlooked in both national discourse and journalistic reporting. He stated that this magazine, dedicated to the lives and welfare of the aged, is more than just a publication—it is a movement aimed at restoring dignity and voice to a segment of society rich in wisdom, experience, and untold stories.
Reflecting on the nature of modern journalism, Kamara said that while reporters frequently chase urgent headlines and trending news, there is immense value in the quiet, enduring stories of those who have lived through decades of Sierra Leone’s history. He emphasized that The Aged Times stands as a bold attempt to bring those narratives to light, to honor aging not as a decline, but as a powerful archive of personal and national heritage.
He continued by noting that SLAJ fully embraces and supports this publication. For SLAJ, he said, inclusion in the media is not complete unless it also amplifies the experiences of the elderly. Kamara described the initiative as both a journalistic responsibility and a moral duty, calling on more reporters and media outlets to engage with issues affecting the aged—from health care and pensions to isolation, discrimination, and elder abuse. He emphasized that such reporting does not only uplift lives but also strengthens the nation’s moral fabric.
The magazine, which was produced by the organization Driving Force of Africa (DOFA), is expected to serve as a platform for advocacy, education, and celebration of senior citizens. By sharing stories of resilience, survival, community service, and generational change, it aims to foster national respect and create a shift in how Sierra Leonean society views aging.
In his concluding remarks, Kamara praised DOFA for what he described as a visionary and much-needed intervention in the country’s media and social sectors. He expressed hope that The Aged Times would reach communities far beyond Freetown, touching rural and urban lives alike, and that it would spark a cultural awakening rooted in care, empathy, and generational connection.
He ended his statement with a call for long-term commitment to the cause. “Congratulations once again to DOFA on this groundbreaking publication,” Kamara said. “May this magazine continue to grow in reach and impact, and may it inspire a deeper culture of care and respect for the aged in Sierra Leone.”
The launch of The Aged Times marks a turning point in Sierra Leone’s media landscape. At a time when society is moving at increasing speed, often leaving the elderly behind, this publication promises to slow down and listen—to remember, to document, and to protect the legacy of those who came before.
