Old Photos of Sierra Leone Exhibition Rekindles Memories and Preserves Heritage

On September 26th and 27th, 2025, Shelters Workspace in Freetown opened its doors to history enthusiasts, art lovers, and curious citizens for a two-day exhibition showcasing old photographs of Sierra Leone.

Organized by Old Photos Sierra Leone in collaboration with Shelters Café and Workspace, the event drew visitors eager to reflect on the country’s past and reconnect with its cultural identity.

The exhibition was curated by Gregory Delichristos 47, founder of the Old Photos of Sierra Leone digital platform, which has grown into a community of over 200,000 members worldwide.

According to him, the event was inspired by a desire to take the archive beyond the digital space and make it accessible in a tangible way.

“This exhibition is a result of our digital platform, where we gather, preserve, and display images of Sierra Leone from the past,” he explained.

“Sometimes we read about history in books but cannot connect with it. Seeing an image stimulates curiosity, inspires learning, and helps us compare the past with the present to envision a better future.”

Gregory Delichristos, Founder of Old Photos Sierra Leone

For Delichristos, the exhibition is not just about nostalgia, it is about preservation. Many of the photographs in the collection were sourced from families abroad whose relatives once lived or worked in Sierra Leone.

He pointed out that the country’s tropical climate, history of social unrest, and fragile photographic materials have led to the loss of countless images over time.

“The biggest challenge is finding the remaining photos,” he said. “Abroad, families may keep them without context, but when they send them to us, thousands of Sierra Leoneans benefit. They become part of a national archive that future generations can access.”

The collaboration with Shelters Workspace was key to hosting the exhibition. Without a physical gallery space, Old Photos of Sierra Leone relies on partnerships to bring its vast digital collection into the public eye.

This was the third time Old Photos of Sierra Leone hosted the exhibition, following a previous editions in 2021

Emotions and Reflections from Visitors

For many who attended, the event stirred deep emotions.

Mariama Dumbuya, a private legal practitioner, said she was drawn to the exhibition both for herself and her daughter.

“I love my country, and I wanted my daughter to see Sierra Leone as it was before,” she said. “Looking at Lumley Beach reminded me of a photo I had from my youth. It was nostalgic and inspiring, showing how far we’ve come as a nation and how much further we have to go.”

Mariama Dumbuya and her daughter

Another visitor, Nikita Cream-Wright, also a legal practitioner, emphasized the importance of such exhibitions in educating the younger generation.

“As an upcoming generation, it’s about time we know what Sierra Leone was before and what it is like now,” she said.

“Seeing the old Grammar School building, which I’ve only heard about from my grandfather, was powerful. This exhibition should happen more often, maybe even quarterly because it gives us perspective on how far we’ve come.”

Nikita Cream-Wright

While visitors enjoyed the nostalgia and history on display, Delchristosi stressed that the primary role of Old Photos of Sierra Leone goes beyond exhibitions.

“Our main mission is to find, preserve, and archive these images digitally for future generations,” Delichristos noted. “Exhibitions are important, but what really matters is ensuring that in 100 or 200 years, Sierra Leoneans will still have access to these treasures.”

Plans are underway to expand the reach of the exhibition. Delichristos revealed that Wusum Hotel in Makeni has expressed interest in hosting, though challenges of funding and logistics remain.

Distinguish guests present at the exhibition

As the two-day event closed, Delichristos left visitors with a reminder that the exhibition was more than just looking at old photographs.

“It’s free, and there is no donation box,” he said. “We do this for people to come, see, and carry something inside them. By leaving this exhibition, you take a part of Sierra Leone’s past with you.”

Distinguish guests at the exhibition

About Old Photos Sierra Leone

Old Photos Sierra Leone is a living digital archive, established in 2020 as a Facebook community. The platform is dedicated to collecting and preserving historical photographs of Sierra Leone, ranging from images of Freetown’s early streetscapes to snapshots of cultural events and everyday life.

With more than 200,000 members worldwide, the community has become a hub where Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad contribute to preserving their nation’s visual heritage. Members upload family albums, forgotten photographs, and archival material, which are then discussed, contextualized, and catalogued for posterity.

The initiative’s mission is clear: to ensure Sierra Leone’s past is not lost to time, climate, or conflict. By digitizing and archiving these images, Old Photos Sierra Leone offers a resource for researchers, students, and future generations who want to understand the country’s journey.

At its core, Old Photos Sierra Leone is both a cultural preservation effort and a bridge between generations, reminding Sierra Leoneans of where they’ve come from while inspiring conversations about where they are headed.