Sierra Leonean literary icon, novelist, biographer and librarian Yema Lucilda Hunter, has passed on. Her death was announced on Sunday August 21st , 2022. She was 79 years old. Hunter wrote across genres as a biographer and a novelist, publishing Road to freedom (1982), Mother and daughter: memoirs and poems (1983), Bittersweet (1989), An African treasure: in search of Gladys Casely-Hayford, 1904-1950 (2008), Builders: the Annie Walsh story, 1849-2009 (2009), Nanna (2014), and Her name was Aina: a historical novel (2018). Her work was respected and widely read, although many times, she was reluctant to identify as just a writer. In her interview with us in may last year, Hunter said “I hesitate to call myself a writer as I don’t often feel compelled to put fingers to a keyboard, or pen to paper, though I always enjoyed and got good marks at school for what used to be called ‘Composition’. However, I AM the author of six novels and a work of non-fiction. My career as a professional librarian is what started it. While browsing the shelves of the Africana Collection at the National Library in Sierra Leone, I came across an old book in which a 19th Century visitor to Freetown mentioned a brief encounter with one of the black Nova Scotian settlers who arrived in the country in 1792.”
Hunter’s commitment to archiving and documenting Sierra Leone’s history through storytelling made her a literary treasure whose writing style was accessible and brilliant. Hunter was a chronicler of Sierra Leone’s history, life and culture and many of us were inspired by her patriotism and commitment to sharing all facets of the Sierra Leonean story.
Yema Lucilda Hunter was loved by many , and Poda-Poda Stories is thankful to everyone who shared their farewell tributes with us to send her off as a community in our own little way.
Oumar Farouk Sesay
YEMA LUCILDA HUNTER
A torch lit years ago glowed in every corner of the land showing wayfarers the signpost to The Road to Freedom
We sang Redemption Songs as we match with Joy that came in the Morning.
We trudged and searched for Nana and An African Treasure to pay homage to
womanhood.
But now the torch is burnt out
The signpost uprooted and the beacon tempest tossed.
We savored the sweetness her life gave us as we tasted the bitterness of life
We are in Deep Waters clutching Bittersweet as Charon,the ferry man of Hades, ferries her soul across the River Styx to eternity .
Rest in peace Yema Lucilda Hunter.
Elizabeth Kamara
Ah, dead ones who have always refused to die, who have known how to fight death
Senghor, “In Memoriam”
Yema Lucilda Hunter was an inspiring woman and one of the most eminent Sierra Leonean writers. I never had the honour of meeting her, but was first introduced to her work in college, where I studied her debut novel, the insightful Road to Freedom.
Yema Lucilda Hunter was very passionate about research, writing, her homeland and yearned for a healthier and happier world for all. She raised the bar for novel writing in Sierra Leone and created characters that will never die. Though she has answered the final call, she remains one of those individuals” …who have always refused to die, who have known how to fight death”. Whenever we read her works, we’ll remember what a talented writer and beautiful soul she was.
We shall treasure her legacy.
May mother earth rest gently on her.
Syl Cheney-Coker
DEATH & THE MAIDEN: An Homage to Novelist Lucilda Hunter
once had the uncomfortable experience of travelling, in an official capacity, with one of our former Ministers of Education, to a Unesco sponsored conference, in another African country. I will not mention his name in this tribute to a writer, on the understanding that, should this political operative happen to read this, he will endeavour to correct a great lapse in his EDUCATION- a non-enlightened one, as I was to discover !
On paper, he had all the right QUALIFICATIONS; a PHD in a scientific field; some particulars of research, and so on. But that was where the bridge of his attributes stopped: he was completely devoid of the vast, necessary pylons of cultural enlightenment, for such a job!
In my seventy-five plus years, I have often wondered how we (Sierra Leoneans ) ended up being one of the most dichotomous people on the African continent, as far as our "EDUCATION" goes! Whereas great emphasis was placed on some form of tertiary education, until very recently, there was , and continues to be, the lack of a concomitant manifestation in our lives! Now, of course, we are producing graduates who massacre the official language in voce, and on paper! We have, if I may put it this way, fallen from the sublime to the burlesque!
Which brings me back to Mr Minister!
Not only had he not read any Sierra Leonean writers, besides, I believe , 'DR CONTON,' as he referred to Willie Conton, I quickly discovered he was completely ignorant of the great sweep of African literature, from the fifties down to the mid-nineties, and that he was just as ignorant of the artistic activities- grand music; sculptures, ballet and the Fine Arts , with a distinctive African flavour!
How did he come to his job?
I could not imagine him serving in a cabinet led by the great poet- philosopher Leopold Sedar Senghor, when he was president in Senegal; I do not believe Jerry Rawlings , who appointed the distinguished Ghanaian writer Ama Atta Aidoo, as MInister of Education, would have welcomed him into his cabinet! But this was Sierra Leone, where anything goes. Where a massive percentage of people, aged between 55-85, have not read a single African writer, besides Chinua Achebe; and that was because he was on their college syllabus ! Not only do we not read to be enlightened, we delight in our ignorance ( Nar book man go eat?)
We don't go to the theatre; we don't buy art pieces, but spend a fortune on asiobi and other gowns! We build mansions, with three car garages, but without a study of even twenty books! Government ministers cut down entire forest, to sell the land to their cronies, but do not even preserve ten acreas for a park, where children might play! In short, we are a nation of philistines, and Freetown, for one,has become a CONCRETE jungle!
Lucilda Hunter, who has just died, was aware of this strange phenomenon, and said so! She was not only one of the handful of writers of my generation who sought to offer a dose of enlightenment to a society tragically, and willfully, devoid of the fine aspects of a civilized life, she despaired, as a former female lawyer associate of mine put it, that she came from a people who refused to be civilised!
As we descended from the sublime to the burlesque, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that , perhaps, ninety percent of the people, charged with MIS-EDUCATING our children and grandchildren, had not read any of her books! And I am not just talking about ill-equipped ministers of education, but of the entire gamut- lawyers, doctors, social scientists, theologians and engineers- who have not read a single Sierra Leonean writer; something un-thinkable in a country like Senegal or Ghana, where writers are read.!
While she earned a living , as most writers do, by having a day job, Lucilda found the time to create a reputation as one of Sierra Leone's finest novelist. In books such as ROAD TO FREEDOM , and JOY CAME IN THE MORNING, she chronicled some of our best and worst chapters in the formation of our identity as a nation; our foibles and and mishaps; but. with the novelist's sense of wisdom, asked us to reflect on what could have been, and may yet happen to make us not a perfect union ( as that is not the novelist's business), but a people sufficiently arouse to think outside of our disquieting mindset.
That imperative for us to start thinking anew can best be answered if her books, and those of other Sierra Leonean writers, ( I do not espouse anything for myself !!) are not only read in schools and colleges, but become part of a new enlightenment; in which we read as much as we drink those expensive bottles of whisky and campari, we shop for , when on holiday abroad, or we save a little bit of the amount we spend on asiobi, for the pleasure of buying books to enlighten!! Only then will all the tears that people are going to shed over her passing make sense to me!
May her attempt to enlighten us continue to thrive, long after she has now danced with the ancestors!
Miriam Conteh-Morgan
As one of Sierra Leone's contemporary female writers, Yema Lucilda Hunter, blazed the trail. Her works spanned different genres but it is her clean, simple and beautiful prose that connected them all. Her death will create a void in the national literature landscape and echoes will be felt in Sierra Leone's literary future for many years. May her sweet soul find its own road to freedom.
Osman Sankoh, Sierra Leone Writers Series
Yema Lucilda Hunter (YLH, as I fondly called her), was one of the most easygoing people I have met. I was introduced to her in 2000 when my familyand I relocated to Accra, Ghana from Heidelberg, Germany by her friend in the US, Ms Amy Davies, who taught me Literature in English at Njala University in Sierra Leone. I had read her book, 'Road to Freedom'; so meeting her, an author I admired, was unquestionably terrific. My familybecame very close to hers, with her late husband Kobina Hunter, becoming our unpaid building contractor when he offered free service to supervise the construction of our house in Accra. Yema Lucilda Hunter became the editor of the international organisation based in Accra where I was the Executive Director and she fully supported the Sierra Leonean Writers Series (SLWS) not only with her own historical novels many of which I published, but also with editing several manuscripts by other writers. I was particularly saddened to hear of her passing away a day after she and I had chatted about her latest novel which I had just published, 'Deep Waters'; she was anxiously waiting to receive the hard copy of it from the UK mailed by her daughter Jessie. Yema Lucilda Hunter published the following books in SLWS: 'Redemption Song' (2014), 'Joy Came in the Morning' (2014), 'Nanna' (2016),'An African Treasure: In Search of Gladys Caseley-Hayford 1904-1950' (2016),'Her Name was Aina' (2018) and 'Deep Waters' (2022). All these books are available on amazon.com May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
Moiyattu Banya-Keister
So glad I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with you and your dear husband of blessed memory in Ghana several years ago. You are a gem to our community. My cousin Luba of blessed memory was one of your biggest fans, when she passed you made it a point to reach out and extend your condolences. Your gift of words and writing will bless many generations to come. Thank you for sharing your light with us. May your legacy live on and may your beautiful soul rest in perfect peace.
Joseph Kaifala
For those of us still trying to tell Sierra Leone’s story, Lucilda Hunter was a trailblazer, a storyteller with a love for country. Our country is still developing its reading culture, and when reading eventually becomes a natural seam in our cultural fabrics, we will rediscover and marvel at her literary contributions to Sierra Leone and Africa. A great Sierra Leone writer, librarian - lover and keeper of books - has passed on, but we are happy she lived.
Nyamakoro Sillah
Mrs Yema Lucilda Hunter was an inspirational person. I regarded her as a mentor and a person I could look up to in most areas of my life. She was firm and fair in her responses to our collective issues in Sierra Leone. I liked her encouraging approach to matters great and small. I feel as African women the impact we make in our communities is oftentimes not recognised by the world we live in. However Mrs Hunter had been through the literature she wrote and her engagement with others on social media platforms and in real life. Rest in peace ma'am. May the Almighty comfort your dear children and family.
Alimatu Dimonekene
I will always remember you Mrs Lucilda Hunter for all your kind words and advice you gave and shared with me. Always so sweet and always so loving. I don’t want think you are no longer here with us but to think of you as that wonderful spirit who surrounds us all. Just a day ago you encourage to keep speaking on the issue of women and girls of Sierra Leone. Please say hi to your darling Kobi you both take your peaceful rest now sweet Angel . I will miss you
SierraEye Magazine
The late “Ms. Lucilda” was a simple soul. A calm, measured, gentle, kind-hearted and generous lady who lived an uncomplicated life and was loved by many. Someone aptly described her some years back as ‘No airs and grace - just a kind smile for everyone. She SAW everyone.’ She had friendly and good advice for all who crossed her path. Whatever came her way, she was able to deal with it. She was the epitome of a selfless character. She never saw herself as the prolific writer we revered. Her first and most famous work, Road to Freedom, was a fascinating historical account of how hard our forefathers struggled to form the Province of Freedom – a free cry from what is today when almost everyone wants to leave. She will be reminded as a true patriot who loved her country and continent. Her legacy will live on in her writings. Pray we have many more Yema Lucilda Hunters.
Pascal Mouhouelo
The sorry is deep in my heart. Mum Lucilda closed the door of life and departed from us.
I have known her in Brazzaville, Congo. I just came back from Sénégal where I did my studies in librarianship. She was very happy to see a local librarian speaking English in a francophone country. Then, she recruted me and became colleagues. She allowed me to call her Mum.
Mum Luclida was an African leader with a strategic vision. After her retirement, we kept in touch trough Facebook. We talked last week.
My prayers and thoughts are with the children and the whole family at this most difficult time.
I will miss you Mum. Goodbye.
Akindele Decker
Mrs. Lucilda Hunter was no ordinary writer, she was one of Africa’s best. She helped to usher Sierra Leonean literature into the mainstream of West African literature in the 1980s, with her novel “Road to Freedom”. In more than five novels since, she has told the story of 18th and 19th century Sierra Leone, stories of war, peace, and love. An Author of some of Sierra Leone’s most brilliant works of literature, even more importantly, she moved among her people the way a writer of the people should. The care she had for our stories are not only reflected in the number of books she wrote about us, but also in the way she navigated our space. Through her novels, she made space for the parts of us that needed to know where we come from and who we are. A descendant of one of the oldest of Sierra Leonean families, the Caulkers, it was as if it was to her nature to hold Sierra Leoneans in her palm, guiding us through our various journeys with her words. Her words were powerful and authentic. The many novels she wrote, collectively tell the Sierra Leonean story. She poured her heart and love for her country and her people into her writing, and she wrote and wrote and wrote. She wrote about every part of us. Each of her novels were as brilliant as the one before, and in all her stories we could find our own, because she wrote for us. Even more importantly, she wrote with us. She never seemed reluctant to come among us and interact with us, enthusiastically sharing and expressing, guiding and communing. She understood the core of who we were and every encounter with her, in physical or digital spaces proved that. She was an iconic figure for many of us, especially young Sierra Leonean writers or anyone with the urge to write. She was one of the best writers Sierra Leone has ever had, and maybe part of that was because she always created a safe space where the better part of being a Sierra Leonean could be found and felt.
She was always supportive, always willing to provide constructive criticism and tips on not just how to make a work of literature better, but also how to better portray Sierra Leone. She had Sierra Leoneans at the center of her heart and at every chance she had, with humility, authenticity, passion, and brilliance, she wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I am so grateful to have briefly crossed her path, for every word of encouragement she shared over the years, for her immense contribution in telling the Sierra Leone story, and for all the exceptional works of literature that she shared through her novels.
It is hard to imagine that Mrs. Lucilda Hunter is no longer with us. Her words, her compassion, her selflessness will live on forever.
Bassie Turay
Early this year, I was invited to sit in on a Language Arts class at the Sierra Leone Grammar School. Yema Lucilda Hunter’s Road to Freedom was being discussed. Beyond my thrill that a Sierra Leonean novel was being used as prescribed text, I enjoyed the content of it. The Grammar School boys seemingly did too. As the boys took turns to read, I felt it was a brilliant and exciting historical fiction! After that visit, I put Road to Freedom on my reading list, but did not get to read it. Regrettably, I still haven’t read it or any of her work. This will change. In Yema Hunter’s passing, I have been reminded of her contributions to Sierra Leonean literature and society. Her writing shiningly helps us make sense of our identities, history and heritage. It is a rare contribution. Her work will live on, and Sierra Leoneans now & in the future, will be glad she wrote for and about Salone.
Osman Bank Sankoh
Yema Lucinda Hunter was a hunter who pierced our hearts with her literary works even at the formative days of our growth. Because of people like her, we were able to plant and water the seeds of our desire for telling our stories the African way- the Sierra Leonean way. Now, she is gone but her legacy lives on. Rest on Yema Lucinda Hunter.
Eleanor Thompson
Yema Lucilda Hunter’s novel, Road to Freedom, taught me so much about my own history. As a Sierra Leonean descendent of formerly enslaved and repatriated people, I felt as though I was getting a glimpse into the real lives of my ancestors in her fictional tellings of that which I had only otherwise read about in history books. The narrative journey that she takes readers on through each of her books reflects her brilliance as both writer and documentarian. She will be missed but her legacy will remain for generations through her contributions to Sierra Leonean literature.
Charmaine Denison-George
For the memory of Yema Lucilda Hunter’s blessed life and legacy, for her trailblazing career as a female Sierra Leonean writer among other things. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
We have truly lost a gem, but Yema Lucilda Hunter’s light will continue to shine. Her books can be purchased on Amazon or Sierra Leonean Writers Series.