Poyo under the palm with carpenter Mamoud Sankoh

Mamoud:
We are supposed to do “poyo under the palm”, under that palm.

Filippo
I know, but there is snakes, this will do.

Mamoud
Ha, filippo, you are scared of the snakes?

Filippo
We’ll call it “poyo next to the palm”
Please introduce yourself

Mamoud
I am Mamoud Sankoh, I work for Tribewanted, born in Lokomasama
chiefdom, I’m Timni, I m 32 years old, my birthday is hmm… next month…feb 18th, 1980. I’m married, I get one wife, I get 4 children.
I am a carpenter for Tribewanted, I’ve been working for Tribewanted
for 1 year and 4 months. From Lokomasama I went to Masaika, and from there to John obey.

Filippo
How you become carpenter? Did you go to school for carpentry?

Mamoud
No no, you don’t go to school to learn to be a carpenter, my daddy
teach me, he was a carpenter. I never went to any school.

Filippo
Difficult job?

Mamoud
No, when you know what you are doing its not very difficult. I have
an apprentice, Hasan, for two months now, I encouraged him to come
join Tribewanted as an apprentice so he can have a skill to make his
living in the future. He works well!

Filippo
What is your life in John Obey like?

Mamoud
I like living in John Obey. I stopped having a monthly job since
2008, only when I came to John Obey first I had some casual jobs but
now I have a monthly paid job with Tribewanted. The conditions before weren’t as good as my conditions now. I like to work here.

Filippo
How old are your children?

Mamoud
I get a 9 year child Hadja Sankoh, 7 years child, Hasan Sankoh, 4
year child, Tomas Sankoh, and a 3 year child named Ousman Sankoh.

Filippo
You want more children?

Mamoud
No, for now its enough. 4 is a lot.

Filippo
Is it difficult to pay for school, food, house?

Mamoud
My wife doenst work, she does some small business, when I receive my salary I give her half for her business, she is working hard to make
it grow. Some items in John Obey are expensive. I rent my house, I
pay 15,000 Le/month (3 dollars), I have one room where 6 of us sleep.

Filippo
So, Mohamed, are you Muslim or Christian ☺

Mamoud
Ha! My name is Mohamed! I go to mosque every Friday.

Filippo
How is Sierra leone?

Mamoud
Well, the good in Salone is much more than the bad. Time has passed
since we were all doing bad things, now we don’t have problems, love
one another, no palava (arguing), we find peace.

Filippo
No bad in sierra leone?

Mamoud
No problems.

Filippo
What about education?

Mamoud
No problems.

Filippo
What about health?

Mamoud
No problems.

Filippo
What about the government?

Mamoud
The government never gave me one problem!

Filippo
Everything is good then!

Mamoud
Yes sir!

Filippo
So you prefer to live here or in London or New york?

Mamoud
I prefer to live here. I like my country. I have gotten used to Salone.

Filippo
What else do you want to say?

Mamoud
For now, I just want to tell the good people that are listening that
we are trying, things are difficult, but with the help of Tribwanted,
if business is good, then we can get more money too.

Filippo
Thank you Mamoud

Mamoud
Thank you too.

Filippo
How is the poyo?

Mamoud
Its good. Poyo is always good.