By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s most iconic cultural institutions, the Freetong Players International (FPI), on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, marked its 40th anniversary with a Press Conference at the National Museum on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.

Founder and Artistic Director, Charlie Haffner, used the occasion to reflect on the group’s four-decade-long journey, describing it as "a road never taken" marked by sacrifice, perseverance and unyielding patriotism.

"Indeed, 40 years have elapsed, 40 years of a journey on blistering bush paths, infested swamps, blood, sweat and tears. But through courage and commitment, Freetong Players has stood tall," Charlie Haffner intimated.

Since its founding on May 20, 1985, by Charlie Haffner and his late wife, Fatie Haffner, both then teachers at the Sierra Leone Grammar School and Freetown Secondary School for Girls respectively,  the group has been a cornerstone of cultural advocacy and theatrical education in Sierra Leone. Originally named "Freetown Players Theatre Group," the ensemble was formed with a clear mission: to elevate Sierra Leone’s theatrical standards from amateur to professional and to use drama as a tool for national development.

Freetong Players has since grown to become a household name, a vibrant symbol of artistic resistance, especially during times of national crisis. In its early years, it emerged as a vital communication channel when state media was largely non-functional and the literacy rate limited newspaper outreach. Collaborating with organizations such as UNICEF and Marie Stopes, the group became a crucial platform for sensitization on health, education, family planning, HIV/AIDS and more.

The group's reach has extended far beyond Sierra Leone’s borders. Over the years, Freetong Players has performed in the United States (1992), Scotland, Denmark, Venezuela (1995), Puerto Rico and the UK (1996), Taiwan and China (1999), Canada (2002–2003), Poland (2004), Shanghai, Berlin and various African countries, including Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, Zambia, South Africa and Ivory Coast.

In 1990, Freetong Players launched a ground-breaking TV series, You en You Pikin, in partnership with UNICEF, focusing on child survival and development issues in 100 communities across Sierra Leone. The project birthed the popular "Tali Afinor" character and theme song that evolved into the celebrated radio drama “Atunda Ayenda” one of Sierra Leone’s most impactful radio soap operas.

Despite its accolades, the journey of Freetong Players has not been without setbacks. During the January 6, 1999 rebel invasion of Freetown, the group’s famed TELEM Centre was destroyed. Many members fled, with some seeking refuge in The Gambia. Yet, the Players rebounded, staging an impressive comeback with invitations to international summits and tours, including the 2002 G8 Summit in Canada and a 92-performance tour of Canadian provinces in 2003.

"Through resilience and determination, we rose from the ashes," said Charlie Haffner.

As part of the 40th anniversary commemoration, a minute of silence was observed in memory of past members whose contributions were foundational to the group’s success. These include Fatie Haffner, Hady Jalloh, Kelfa Marrah, Abu G. Kargbo, Isaac Randy Wright and others.

A special tribute was paid to Emmanuel Paye Quist, affectionately known as “Uncle Paye,” who joined in 1996 and remains the group’s longest-serving member.

The Freetong Players International @ 40 celebration will continue throughout the year with a series of activities, including:

- New Album Release – A new ‘acappella’ album featuring original compositions.


- Live Concerts – A showcase of 40 songs and melodramas by Charlie Haffner performed live across Sierra Leone.


- Audio-Visual Exhibition – A week-long display of photos, videos, memorabilia and artifacts documenting the group’s history.


- Commemorative Publication – A special edition titled “Chapter 40”, produced in collaboration with Awoko Publications, to chronicle the life and legacy of the Freetong Players.


- Play Publications and Performances – The landmark play Amistad Katakata will be republished by the Sierra Writers Series and a new production, The Trial of Sengbe Pieh, will be staged in Freetown between May and July.

Charlie Haffner also acknowledged the instrumental roles played by the late AOD George, MB Jalloh (now CEO of FOCUS 1000) and Cornelius Williams of UNICEF’s Communication Support Unit in transforming the group into a full-time professional body.

“The Freetong Players became the nation’s singing newspaper, television and town crier performing, informing, educating and mobilizing people for national development,” Charlie Haffner concluded.

Marking 40 years of theatrical revolution and cultural pride, the Freetong Players International stands as a testament to the power of the arts in shaping national identity and inspiring social change. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/freetong-players-commemorates-40-year-journey-of-resilience-patriotism-and-creative-excellence/