Miss Sierra Leone USA Attends Kono Union USA's 2014 Sierra Leone Independence Picnic

Hello world!!!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I am doing fantastic, thanks be to God! It's Sierra Leone's Independence Weekend, woohoo!!! On the eve of Sierra Leone's Independence Day, I attended Kono Union USA's Sierra Leone Independence Picnic in Bethesda, Maryland. The purpose of this picnic was to commemorate Sierra Leone's 53rd Independence, create a fun and family-oriented event, as well as celebrate the newly elected executive board members of Kono Union USA.

Green, White, and Blue!
Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Kono Union USA, Inc. is an organization interested in bringing together everyone who loves, claims, and respect the Kono District in Sierra Leone.The motto of Kono Union USA is "to Love, Honor and have Pride in Kono." They are interested in fostering a community of like-minded persons who support and honor projects related to Kono both within the United States and abroad. Kono Union USA Inc. is the oldest ethnic Sierra Leonean organization in the United States.

Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu (Owner of the Miss Sierra Leone USA Pageant and President of Kono Union USA) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Zianab Sankoh (Kono Union USA Secretary-General), Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu (President of Kono Union USA), and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

I am pictured above with Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu, a medical anthropologist and scholar. Besides being the Owner of the Miss Sierra Leone USA pageant and CEO of Miss Sierra Leone in DC, Inc., she is the newly elected president of Kono Union USA, Inc. An awesome fact about her position is that she is the first woman to serve as president of Kono Union USA. Congratulations again, Dr. Fuambai!

Mrs. Hawa Barry Diallo (Owner/Executive Director of the Miss Guinea North America Pageant) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Miss Khadija Barry-Diallo (daughter of Mrs. Hawa Barry Diallo) and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Overall, I had a great time at the event and I got to meet many new people. Thank you so much to the Kono people for being so welcoming. My time at the picnic brought back some memories from my time staying in Kono last year during my mining internship in Tankoro Chiefdom, Koidu Town with Koidu Limited - Octea Mining. Keep up the good work KUUSA, and all the best in your future endeavors!

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

Having gained independence as a free nation from British invasion and domination, Sierra Leone celebrates 53 years on April 27th, 2014.

Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson

As descendants of Africans with our history of enslavement, imperialism and colonialism, we have to be very careful when we are shamed into forgetting or denigrating our culture, our past, and our traditions. - Dr. Fuambai Sia Ahmadu

Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.

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