Zion Freetown 230

About Zion Freetown 230

Established in Sierra Leone in 1792 by ex-Loyalists who journeyed from the American South to Nova Scotia then Freetown on 16 ships, joined later by Maroons from Jamaica, Liberated Africans, Africans from the West Indies, and the seventeen nations including Mende, Sherbro, Temne and Bullom peoples of the region to form the Central Circuit, Zion Methodist Church today remains a fixture of living history in the heart of Freetown. Seven generations of family and 230 years of fellowship later we look back at the story of Zion and set course for the next port in a remarkable 'One Journey'.

Publisher

Zion Freetown

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Dec 2021

Latest episode

6 Aug 2023

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Aug 2023

   Historic Freetown - One Journey symposium highlights Part 3 (Sep-Oct 2022)

   A virtual 'One Journey' symposium held September 30-October 1, 2022 was the third in a series and featured speakers in Jamaica, Canada, United States, and Freetown West Africa. This symposium highlights different perspectives and contributions of the journeys and legacies of Jamaican Maroons, African-Caribbean connections, and the founding of Historic Maroon Town in Africa 222 years ago in 1800. https://m.youtube.com/@africancurator6197/videos Part 3 African-Caribbean Music & Culture Iyamide Thomas, Curator and Historian Adrian Q. Labor Adesina During AfriCaribbean Festival - Empress Jalloh & Danny Labor Organized by Adrian Q. Labor & Akindele T.M. Decker of African Curator, Barbara Morgan of Zion 230, Adesina During of KDU-Global, in partnership with the Freetown City Council.

2. 

   6 Aug 2023

   Historic Freetown - One Journey symposium highlights Part 2 (Sep-Oct 2022)

   A virtual 'One Journey' symposium held September 30-October 1, 2022 was the third in a series and featured speakers in Jamaica, Canada, United States, and Freetown West Africa. This symposium highlights different perspectives and contributions of the journeys and legacies of Jamaican Maroons, African-Caribbean connections, and the founding of Historic Maroon Town in Africa 222 years ago in 1800. https://m.youtube.com/@africancurator6197/videos Part 2 West Indians in Sierra Leone - Dr. Nemata Blyden, Historian & Professor, George Washington University - Natassja Bynoe, The African Diaspora Institute of Cultural Exchange and Historical Research, Inc. Liberated African Emigration to West Indies & West Indian Immigration - Adrian Q. Labor - Akindele T.M. Decker Creolized Languages: Krio, Jamaican Patois, Gullah, Suriname Creole - Dr. Malcolm Finney Organized by Adrian Q. Labor & Akindele T.M. Decker of African Curator, Barbara Morgan of Zion 230, Adesina During of KDU-Global, in partnership with the Freetown City Council.

3. 

   6 Aug 2023

   Historic Freetown - One Journey symposium highlights Part 1 (Sep-Oct 2022)

   A virtual 'One Journey' symposium held September 30-October 1, 2022 was the third in a series and featured speakers in Jamaica, Canada, United States, and Freetown West Africa. This symposium highlights different perspectives and contributions of the journeys and legacies of Jamaican Maroons, African-Caribbean connections, and the founding of Historic Maroon Town in Africa 222 years ago in 1800. Part 1 - Speakers touch on the lived experience of their common African history and their communities' shared heritage. https://m.youtube.com/@africancurator6197/videos Chief Michael Grizzle, Flagstaff Maroon Council, Trelawny Town, Jamaica Gaamang Gloria Simms, CEO of Maroon Indigenous Women's Circle, 1st Female Gaamang of the Maroons of Jamaica and Suriname Mr. Victor Barber-Richards, Representative of St. John's Maroon Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone Ing. Melbourne Garber, Historian & Engineer Organized by Adrian Q. Labor & Akindele T.M. Decker of African Curator, Barbara Morgan of Zion 230, Adesina During of KDU-Global, in partnership with the Freetown City Council.

4. 

   10 Jul 2023

   Historic Freetown - One Journey symposium highlights (March 2022)

   A virtual 'One Journey' symposium held on March 10, 2022 was the first in a series and featured speakers in Sierra Leone, Maryland, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Nova Scotia and other locations. They present perspectives, contributions and legacies of black Settlers around the world, and reflect on the founding of historic Freetown in 1792 and journeys beyond. https://m.youtube.com/@africancurator6197/videos This session's topics include West Africa before the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, differences between history and heritage; Black Loyalists who fought during the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Canada, the largest exodus of free blacks from the Americas to Africa; the Gullah-Geechee Corridor, Black Seminole stories; #1792 initiatives including the Book of Letters and Proclamation projects; Liberated Africans and diasporas within Africa; the Krios, Islam and Freetown with all its Identities, 230 years on. Organized by Adrian Q. Labor & Akindele T.M. Decker of African Curator, Amadu Massally & Aminata Kondeh of TPISENT, Barbara Morgan of Zion 230, Adesina During of KDU-Global, in partnership with the Freetown City Council and the Mayor of Freetown. Visit https://youtu.be/it6VDkgCYFI (https://youtu.be/it6VDkgCYFI) for highlights of 'Freetown At 230 Years Anniversary Celebrations - 7th to 13th March 2022' (FCC).

5. 

   17 Jun 2023

   Historic Freetown - Cotton Tree stories

   Freetown's Cotton Tree was the south-west demarcation of the city when its earliest plans were drawn up. It stood at the junction of trails, one of which led to Pademba’s Village, where the town’s children were taken to seek refuge from the French invasion in which they burnt the town in February 1794. The Cotton Tree has a place in many significant cultural events and so many traditional beliefs by the seventeen nations that called Freetown home.  In particular, it is integral to the story of the early founding settlers, the Black Poor, Nova Scotian, Jamaican Maroons, Emigrated American and Caribbean Families. The founding settlers all gave significance to Cotton Tree as it stood majestically within their neighborhoods or within sight for the first decade since 1792. After the fall of the Cotton Tree on a stormy night in May 2023, Sierra Leoneans are telling its stories infused with social history and  traditional myths, it is how folktales are birthed.  The Cotton Tree took its last stand on that night, burdened by the nation’s unsettled past, its current political and economic storms, and weary of the prevailing winds of tumultuous attitudes. - Adrian Q. Labor Voiced by Akindele T. M. Decker Music: Sierra Leonean artist NATA (Raps Sweetheart) Nata - Art Thou (2021) (https://youtu.be/hL26ATRRAOE) Created by Barbara Morgan

6. 

   10 Apr 2022

   Episode 7 (Finale) - Awake and sing, 230 years and beyond

   Joyful, thankful, humble, generous. These words describe the service and sacrifice modeled by church members and leaders echoing the history we've explored on this journey from the past through 1792, now grounded in the realities of life in the 21st century. Still, the story of Zion is far from finished. 'Awake and Sing the Song' - Rev. Archer-Campbell locates an elderly lady at Murray Town where class meeting is still in operation and the Sankey Hymn book is used. She graciously rendered a verse, providing the tune for a near forgotten hymn which records tell us was sung by our settler ancestors when they arrived on dry land in Sierra Leone. In memory of Winston Jones. [Intro: Awake and Sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb - performed by The Young Trio from the Saint Luke's Episcopal Church of Los Gatos, California, USA] [Outro: Amazing Grace - performed by the Africa University Choir June 14, 2015 at Belin Memorial UMC] [Image: site of Harmony Hall in old George Street, remnant of a wall erected by Thomas Peters c. 1792] (00:00) Introduction (01:36) Rev. Archer Campbell talks about his family, his work over the years, and the significance of this 230 commemoration (05:44) Senior Society Steward Rhoda Labor Sesay on her childhood, personal connections to Zion and love for the church (08:27) Dr. George Gage shares his earliest memories and time as the oldest Zion Trustee including the fond nickname, Father of the Choir (11:03) Organist Mr. George Songo-King treats us to a hymn (12:39) Kelvin Savage of the anniversary committee gives an overview of the upcoming celebrations and shares his passion for music ministry (17:37) Rhoda Labor Sesay talks about the place of the church in its neighboring communities (19:34) Dr. Gage reflects on what holds the Zion society together (21:10) Victor Rodney Nelson Streeter the current Choirmaster discusses his family history with the church, his memories, hopes for continued reinvigoration of love and outreach by the church, and importance of strengthening the youth fellowship. I asked if he could share his favorite hymn. Apologies for the sound quality during this call, we had a weak internet connection (28:20) Dr. Gage looks ahead. I also asked if he could share his favorite hymn (30:03) Rev. Archer Campbell on passing on our history for future generations (30:45) Anthony Morgan, his personal impressions and looking ahead (33:42) Nigel Browne-Davis on revisiting a complex history through an informed lens (37:37) Akindele Decker reflections and closing thoughts (47:22) Adrian Labor reflections and closing thoughts (51:20) Thanks and closeout This podcast has been a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative.

7. 

   9 Apr 2022

   Episode 6 - Canadian connections and the #1792 project

   Halifax (Kjipuktuk) is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. Adrian Labor highlights seminal works on Black Canadian stories from the 18th century onward, discussing efforts to define the One Journey strategy.  Features Dr. Afua Cooper's talk on the renowned civil rights leader and black Atlantic revolutionary, Thomas Peters (https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/personnage-person/thomas-peters). The #1792 project was born from an art installation for Halifax's Nocturne Festival in October 2021, called Message in a Bottle: 15 Ships to Sierra Leone, inspired by Dr. Afua Cooper's poem https://www.blackhalifax.ca/portfolio/15-ships-to-sierra-leone/. The letter-writing project “Book of Letters” began in September of 2021, in preparation for the 230th anniversary of the first recruitment that took place in Preston on October 12, 1791. To learn more and join the effort, visit https://abn.hrce.ca/abn/our-school/1792-project (https://abn.hrce.ca/abn/our-school/1792-project) Thanks to students Zai, Samara Hudson-Ash, Adeola Wyse, Yema Ong'ongo and Ezra kenye Ong'ongo for lending their voices to reading letters from students. [Outro music: Detroit Youth Choir - Glory, featuring IndigoYaj, 2020 https://youtu.be/EDWsm7lcGXM (orig. John Legend, Common, 2014)] [Interlude: Africville (Africville Suite) - Joe Sealy, 1996 Sea Jam, Triplet Records] [Interlude: Radio Democracy Freetown; Music: Kokonat Ed - Emmerson, 2020 Sugar Entertainment] [Image: Advertisement for the settlement of black Nova Scotians in Sierra Leone. Date: 2 August 1791. Reference: Commissioner of Public Records Nova Scotia Archives  RG 1 volume 419 number 1 (microfilm 15460)] (00:00) Introduction (06:32) The Canadian story as a cementing piece in the journey to liberty and self determination (08:30) Noted writings and historic volumes (12:45) Introduction of Historian Dr. Afua Cooper and the importance of enriching the Atlantic connection with Canada (17:34) Dr. Afua Cooper on Thomas Peters (32:17) West Africans in early Canada, and other community histories of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick (34:30) The #1792 Project (49:29) Students reading from the Book of Letters, closeout This podcast is a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative. Help with mental health- https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/guide-to-mental-health-resources/for-bipoc-mental-health; https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American; https://ilpa.org.uk/members-area/working-groups/well-being-new/well-being-resource-hub/mental-health-resources-for-black-people-and-poc/

8. 

   17 Mar 2022

   Zion Freetown - Anthony Elliott featurette video/audio

   Portrait of early black settler Rev. Anthony Elliott, and the genealogy project. Narrated by Akindele T. M Decker; Family genealogy from Adrian Q. Labor (African Curator); created by Barbara Morgan. [Music: Home Again, Michael Kiwanuka 2012 - London Polydor, Interscope]

9. 

   17 Mar 2022

   Zion Freetown - Historic Freetown video/audio featurette

   Gateway to a 230 year old West African city.

10. 

    28 Feb 2022

    Episode 5 - 'The Lord builded a House', Zion through the decades

    From the early years of meetings at the Wilson compound, to the current location built on land willed to the church by Mary Ash, a 1792 settler who worked as a washer woman, we learn about the lasting legacies of John Ellis, Anthony Elliott, JB Elliott, 'Old Rixby' Elliott, and John Frederick under whose tenure major organisations of the church were developed including the Choir, Women’s Church Aid, the Dorcas Association, Ladies Industrial Society, the Young Men’s Union, Boys Brigade, the Trustee Board and the Kindergarten Society. Under the Wesleyan Methodists, Zion Wilberforce street was placed in a Circuit arrangement together with Maroon Church, College Chapel Rawdon Street and for a long time Spafield Church. Sources: "The history of Zion Methodist Church, Wilberforce Street" written by the late Professor Emeritus Cecil Magbailay Fyle - extracts by Brian W. Samuels. 220th Anniversary booklet produced by the Zion 220 Committee, curated by Mr. Paju Hamilton. Readings from interviews with Zion church members, including conversations with the late Mama Mokeh Hamilton and Norman Thomas' reflections on the bicentenary celebrations of the church for an oral presentation on Chapel Sunday, 2004.  Presented by Natacha Leopold. Written and Produced by Barbara Morgan. [Image: Early Zion Choir, Freetown] [Sermon excerpt - Rev H. Samuels during the Dec 5, 2021 unveiling and dedication of the new organ // Music - Zion Methodist Church Wilberforce Street Choir (2021/22)] [Interlude- A scene from the Theatre Calgary/National Arts Centre co-production of 'da Kink in my Hair, by Writer, Director and Producer Trey Anthony] [Music: Everything Is Everything, Lauryn Hill - 1999 Ruffhouse and Columbia Records] (00:00) Introduction (01:37) On the history of the congregation (03:05) Descendants introduce us to the Church's earliest Trustees (08:10) Early Chaplains including West Indians Rev. Ralph Taylor and Rev. John Frederick and their families (11:35) Branching out and establishment of the various Baptist and Methodist congregations (13:54) History of the Ladies Industrial Association (16:20) Church stewardship, building and school (17:38) Descendant Prof. Hector Morgan reflects on his boyhood and Zion family through the years and shares excerpts from the 2004 booklet on the Church's history (26:30) Remembering the 1992 bicentenary celebration (27:40) Current trustee and leader Mr. Gerald Hastings-Spaine shares his story, memories and perspectives on advancing the church's legacy for the future (36:25) Closeout This podcast is a fully volunteered effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative. Help with mental health- https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/guide-to-mental-health-resources/for-bipoc-mental-health; https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American; https://ilpa.org.uk/members-area/working-groups/well-being-new/well-being-resource-hub/mental-health-resources-for-black-people-and-poc/

11. 

    6 Feb 2022

    Episode 4 - The Edmonds story, from Kingdom wars through the middle passage

    The life of Anne and David before 1783 was one of enslavement on the Edmonium Tobacco Plantations in Fauquier County Virginia. They were descendants of Africans acquired from slave ships arriving in the Maryland-Virginia Chesapeake Bay, forcibly taken from Guinea, as West Africa was called at the time. For a time-lapse representation of slave ships crossing the Atlantic during the periods of 1650 -1750 and perhaps better appreciate the sheer scale of these events, visit ⁠https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/database#timelapse⁠ (https://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/database#timelapse) From research documented by Adrian Q. Labor in 'Last Christmas in Nova Scotia, America and their Hopes of a Better and  Brighter New Year in Sierra Leone, Africa.' Jan 15rd, 2022 Edition; and African Curator LLC - Akindele Decker and Adrian Labor (https://www.africancurator.com/ (https://www.africancurator.com/)).  Presented by Natacha Leopold. Written and Produced by Barbara Morgan. Photo: Excerpt from the muster roll of discharged officers, disbanded soldiers and Loyalists taken in Annapolis County 18-24 June 1784 almost certainly refers to the family of police officer Rose Fortune (ca 1774-1864). To learn about Rose Fortune you can visit: https://aaregistry.org/story/rose-fortune-a-special-canadian/ [Features music from Krio Diaspora United (KDU)- Southern Ontario; Outro-  Say Her Name (Hell You Talmbout) Janelle Monáe et al - 2015, 2021 (c) Wondaland Records] (00:00) Introduction and arrival in Freetown (01:50) Anne and David Edmonds (05:30) History of West African Kingdoms (14:11) Resistance, rebellion and heroism (22:39) Paul Cuffe and the movement to resettle free black Americans to Africa (24:27) Anne Edmonds, accusation and trial of a Nova Scotian settler (26:00) John Leedham Morgan of the Trelawney Town Jamaican Maroons (28:34) Marriage of Anne and John in 1809 and the banishment of Anne Edmonds Morgan (30:00) Zion as a place of resilience and hope seven generations later (31:52) Look back and closeout This podcast is a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative. Help with mental health- https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/guide-to-mental-health-resources/for-bipoc-mental-health; https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American; https://ilpa.org.uk/members-area/working-groups/well-being-new/well-being-resource-hub/mental-health-resources-for-black-people-and-poc/

12. 

    14 Jan 2022

    Episode 3 - A Fellowship of the Free

    In the closing decades of the eighteenth century, the convergence of various streams of transatlantic migration on Sierra Leone resulted in the intermixing of people with different life experiences of enslavement and freedom in Africa, the West Indies, Europe and America. In this episode, Adrian Labor discusses the Fellowship of the Free; Akindele Decker on the legacy of his grandfather renowned Sierra Leonean linguist, poet, and journalist Thomas Alexander Leighton Decker OBE, highlights the significance of language in the context of our conversations. Presented by Natacha Leopold. Written and Produced by Barbara Morgan. [Intro music: LEOA academic male voice choir, lyrics by Samuel Koffie-Williams] [Image: (Cover page) Origin of Wesleyan Methodism in Sierra Leone and History of its missions, by Rev Charles Marke] [Outro music: Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (c) 2006, Atlantic Records] (00:00) Opening (01:47) A community not of loyalists or patriots but freedom. Barbara had some mouse clicks going which may be annoying to some listeners and we apologize for this. (07:23) Mad Methodists (09:40) Akindele Decker on challenging the language with which we approach history (13:50) Church leaders from Birch Town Nova Scotia, Resistance and the Sierra Leone Company (20:38) Wrap up and goodbyes This podcast is a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative. Help with mental health- https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/guide-to-mental-health-resources/for-bipoc-mental-health; https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American; https://ilpa.org.uk/members-area/working-groups/well-being-new/well-being-resource-hub/mental-health-resources-for-black-people-and-poc/

13. 

    8 Jan 2022

    Episode 2 - On histories and genealogies

    Presenter Natacha Leopold introduces us to a group of family members that got together to try and identify as many people as possible in an old photograph; a key element in filling in some of the gaps in the family tree - part of the conversation is in the Krio language. On the call are Adrian Labor, Dolly Labor, Marina Elba, Nora Walton-Macaulay, Rodney Allen-Campbell, Beale Morgan, Rev. Arnold Archer-Campbell and Edleen Elba. Historian Nigel Browne-Davies discusses identities and social evolution of early settler (Creole) communities in the context of the 230 initiative. To learn more about Nigel’s research, visit https://independent.academia.edu/DaviesNigel (https://independent.academia.edu/DaviesNigel) Written and Produced by Barbara Morgan. (00:00) Introduction (01:22) We hear from a History scholar on his genealogy journey (04:20) Family members identify ancestors and relatives in an old photo (06:32) Nigel Browne-Davis on what makes this story so special (07:50) Families represented in the photo (13:00) The importance of commemorating this history (16:19) More family connections are explored (19:30) A historical view on the diversity of the Krios (23:23) The Elliott and Archer families (29:10) Wrap up and goodbyes This podcast is a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative.

14. 

    6 Jan 2022

    Episode 1 - Early founders, congregation and community

    Our story begins with a look at the early founders, congregation and community, and an introduction to members of the ZionFreetown@230 team, family genealogists Akindele T.M. Decker and Adrian Q. Labor (African Curator LLC). Follow African Curator online to learn more about how they are making curated historical African experiences more accessible and permanent by working with communities, creatives, museums, public and private entities. We talk with Anthony Morgan- Founder of Science Everywhere (https://www.anthonymorganscience.com/ (https://www.anthonymorganscience.com/)) about his connections to Zion Wilberforce street, in Freetown. Presented by Natacha Leopold. Written and Produced by Barbara Morgan. [Image: Portrait of the Reverend Anthony Elliott as published in a pamphlet by his son, John Bucknor Elliott, titled Lady Huntingdon’s Connexion in Sierra Leone: A Narrative of its history and present state published in 1851.] [Outro music- A Tribe Called Quest -The Space Program (c) 2016 Epic Records] (00:00) Introduction and the last Christmas in America (02:35) Meet a member of the team (04:50) JB Elliott narrative on The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion in Sierra Leone (06:20) Meet a member of the team (15:08) Methodist and Baptist leaders and founding congregations (19:00) Meet a descendant (20:46) We talk to the current Circuit Superintendent about the initiative (23:16) Look ahead and outro This podcast is a fully volunteer effort toward the Zion Freetown 230 initiative. Help with mental health- https://www.massgeneral.org/psychiatry/guide-to-mental-health-resources/for-bipoc-mental-health; https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/Black-African-American; https://ilpa.org.uk/members-area/working-groups/well-being-new/well-being-resource-hub/mental-health-resources-for-black-people-and-poc/

15. 

    30 Dec 2021

    Zion Freetown 230 podcast - Trailer

    Zion Methodist Church Wilberforce Street was established in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1792 and celebrates over two centuries of faith, fortitude, freedom and fellowship. Series begins January 2022. Image: Wilberforce Street Freetown Lots 47 &48 (c.1800) - TD Williams photo, 28 Waters Street Freetown [Trailer music featuring NAS -NAS is like (c) 1999 Columbia] This podcast is a fully volunteered effort toward the ZionFreetown230 initiative. Follow Zion Church on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Zionwilberforcestreet/

Contact Zion Freetown 230

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