The SLAJ Presidential Distinction Award for Entertainment/Culture/Tourism was bestowed upon the Founder and CEO of Salone Adventures, a travel and tour operator in Sierra Leone, on May 6th at the Bintumani conference center.
“Citation in honour of Murtala Mohamed Kamara. For your pioneering contribution to the development and promotion of Sierra Leone’s entertainment industry, culture, and tourism through SaloneJamboree and beyond,” reads the citation.
Expressing humility upon receiving the award, Kamara expressed gratitude to the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists for the recognition. He reflected, “it is one thing to receive an award, but when colleagues from the fourth estate decide to honour one of their own, that is such a great thing.”
Kamara dedicates this award to those persevering under challenging circumstances in the Sierra Leone tourism industry, describing the sector as a diamond in the dirt with the potential to transform the country if given proper attention. He extends the dedication to individuals who have invested in the tourism sector despite risks, emphasizing, “this award is for those genuinely pushing Sierra Leone’s art, culture, and tourism sector— the young Sierra Leoneans in the hospitality industry, tour operators, guides, musicians, and hoteliers. This award is for all of us.” He expressed confidence in the revival of Sierra Leone’s tourism industry.
The annual SLAJ National Media Awards aim to recognize excellence in the media landscape of Sierra Leone, honoring outstanding contributions across various media platforms that have influenced its development.
These awards symbolize a stride towards media self-regulation and inspire heightened professionalism in journalism within Sierra Leone, acknowledging journalists and media personalities fostering national development and shaping the media environment positively.
Murtala Mohamed Kamara has initiated multiple endeavours to promote Sierra Leone’s art, entertainment, and tourism industry. His launch of the SaloneJamboree website in May 2009 marked the inception of the first online newspaper dedicated to showcasing the arts, entertainment, culture, and tourism sectors. A year later, the print version of SaloneJamboree was introduced. Over the past decade, SaloneJamboree has consistently spotlighted the arts and tourism sector. Kamara also established SaloneAdventures Travel and Tours, a registered travel and tour operator company organizing travel packages across Sierra Leone and beyond, including a successful road trip from Freetown to Accra conducted last year.
