Sheka

From Sierra Leone to Oldham and back again

Former journalist Sheka's life has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. After fleeing persecution in Sierra Leone, he lived as an asylum seeker for four years in the UK before his country's new president appointed him as press secretary at the end of 2007.

Sheka was brought up as a Christian in a small town in Sierra Leone. His father was a pastor. He had always wanted to be a journalist and in 1995 he graduated from the University of Sierra Leone in the capital Freetown with a degree in English language and literature.

He went on to work for the Concord Times Newspaper, a renowned national newspaper where he wrote a column called ‘The Black Tank’, commenting upon current political issues.

At that time Sierra Leone had a military government, the National Provisional Ruling Council, but rebel attacks were frequent. After writing an article about the murder of Nigerian activists (including the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa) he was told to rein in his views and he subsequently resigned.

In 1996 a new civilian government came to power, but the rebel war continued and and with it the rape and pillage that consumed the country. Sheka’s partner and child fled to England for safety (his partner had been born there) but Sheka stayed in Sierra Leone and started his own newspaper called Torchlight. Again the government were on his back and when he wrote an article about government corruption he was sentenced to four weeks in prison for contempt.

He spent the first week in solitary confinement until international pressure forced the authorities to release him. On his release he continued to write but was soon in trouble with the authorities again.

After his uncle was murdered, Sheka spent a year hiding out near his mother’s house. He would sleep in the bush in the day, only returning to his parents’ house at night when he would write. After a year of this, he felt it was safe to return to the capital because by this time the UN peacekeepers were in place. He worked for the Centre of Media Education and Technology, training other journalists.

Soon afterwards, Sheka came to the UK for a conference on international media. He decided to search for his lost partner and child, who he tracked down to London. He had a six-month visa.

While here he was asked to write an article for the All Africa.Com website in which he criticised the Sierra Leone government. He heard from his brother that he was yet again wanted by the authorities as they had read his criticism of them. He was warned not to return home.

He claimed asylum and was dispersed to Oldham where he regularly attended church and did voluntary advice work, helping other asylum seekers. He was refused asylum but lodged a fresh claim and lived for many months on £35 a week in vouchers.

However, in 2007 Sheka's life was transformed. There was an election in his country and the opposition party won. This meant Sheka could return home safely. He was then offered the position of State House press secretary and has worked alongside the president since December 2007.

Before he left the UK, Sheka said:

“This changes everything for me. I have been a supporter of the opposition and a friend of the new President. This means I can now go back to Sierra Leone. It has been really tough for me in the UK, but I don’t bear a grudge. I love this country. Thank God, I was never deported even though the government threatened me and told me to leave. I would have been killed if I had been returned. My faith in God got me through it.”

Please don’t reproduce this story in any other format without prior permission. Some names have been changed.