Wordsmiths Live is a show that seeks to promote and introduce the world to African poets and poetry. The random episodes feature one poet per episode where they share a poem or two and sheds more light on who they are.
In the first episode, we hosted J. Celine, real name Jeneba Marah, a Kuranko woman born in Kabala is a young leader, poet, writer, actress, model, women and girls advocate. She started writing at a young age with her first article getting published on the Salone Times Newspaper under kids zone in 2010.
Currently employed as an administrator, she has worked as a volunteer for Restless Development Sierra Leone and she is the Western Rural chairperson for Network of Youth for Development Sierra Leone (NYDSL) since 2015 to date.
On-screen, J. Celine has starred in countless Sierra Leonean movies, documentaries, and music videos. J. Celine is Miss Las Banking 2021 winner.
She started writing poetry at the age of 18 with the aim of promoting gender equality and mass involvement in national development.
Below are the written versions of the poetry J. Celine recited.
IN THIS TINY WORLD
Many want to fight themselves for Money, Power, and fame
Many want to gain the world and lose their soul
Many do not want to die But they want to go to heaven
Many do not want to give
But they want to take
Many do not want to pray
But they want to be blessed
Many do not want to praise God for his grace in their lives
But they want to be praise
Many do not want to labor to earn their daily bread
But they want their bread and butter
In this tiny world
Let God be the judge and not man
Let God bless you and not man
Let God be the provider and caretaker not man
In this tiny world
All that man is supposed to do is to have…
Love for one another
Care for one another
Respect for one another.
©J. Celine
Back in the days
She is crying, angry, naughty, and wants to go back in the days
The days of the barter system
The days of blood diamond
The days of slavery
The days of practicing culture and tradition
The days of love and respect
The days of no fashion dress but ronko
The days of no slippers but bear feet
The days of no civilization
The days of no mobile phone but letters
The days of no car but traveling by feet
The days of no television but kuku
Because I am tired of seeing what is not right these days
These days there is no barter system that is why things are hard
These days our diamond will turn to stone
These days because of freedom some people want to take the law into their hands
These days we are not practicing our culture and tradition rather the western world style
These days there is no love and respect
These days if you are not a fashionista you will not feel belong
These days’ fashions want to make some people go mad
These days if you put on the same slippers on different occasion some people will make it a highlight on FB
These days everyone is now civilized as a result no one is willing to learn from someone
These days mobile phone is damaging our homes, marriages, relationships, and families
These days most people hate to travel on feet
These days television is leading our children in a way that book is no more their friend
Please let somebody take me back I want to go……..
To those days I was not Bron but am in love with it, due to stories I have been heard by our grandparent…..
J. Celine facebook
