Freetown — Sierra Leone, a nation celebrated for its peaceful religious coexistence, is facing public criticism over a recent conference hosted by a little-known religious sect from the United States.
The event, held under the banner of “family values” by a faction of the Mormon Church, has triggered backlash from citizens and commentators who question the group’s legitimacy, intentions, and alignment with Sierra Leone’s cultural and religious traditions.
“We are a country where churches and mosques stand side by side,” said Rugiatu Sesay, a vocal commentator and women’s rights advocate. “Our President is Christian. Our First Lady is Muslim. That balance is not symbolic — it’s who we are. So why hand over the national microphone to a group whose history includes racial discrimination, cultural insensitivity, and secret polygamy?”
Critics argue that the group’s teachings, rooted in conservative American ideologies, have no place in Sierra Leone’s inclusive and indigenous religious landscape. They point to the group’s past of labeling Black skin as cursed and African traditions as backward — positions long since disavowed but still resonant.
“They come dressed in suits and scripture,” Sesay continued, “but it’s nothing more than a polite colonisation of our pulpits. They bring moral lectures from Utah and Arizona, not from the streets of Bo or the mosques of Makeni.”
The so-called “family conference,” critics argue, offers little of the authentic interfaith respect that defines Sierra Leone’s spiritual life. Instead, they view it as an export of foreign values disguised as salvation—a troubling echo of past impositions from abroad.
As the debate continues, many are calling for greater scrutiny of the groups that are given national platforms — and for a reaffirmation of the religious dignity that Sierra Leone has long upheld.
