Bomeh Inc.: Shit for Sale:: A Profile of the Sierra Leone Informal Economy (V)

Dr. Umaru Bah, CEO

DataWise (SL) Ltd.

@DataWiseSL

*

Kingtom Bomeh Landfill: Barren tree surrounded by salvaged plastic ready for haulage.A pig-pen of salvaged corrugated iron at top left. Raw sewage pond at mid-right, off-camera. Part of the Ebola burial plot just over the fence at Kingtom Cemetery, off-camera.  

Africell headquarters sits atop the highest hill in Wilberforce. At least that’s what it looks like, viewed from afar in the Kingtom Bomeh refuse landfill. Its skyscraping height makes it an unavoidable landmark. As does its distinct yellow n-shaped exterior plating. The building enjoys the company of many international development agency offices. And a couple of other government agencies. And the residences of many expats: Most pay top dollars—or euros or pounds—for the sea view and the commanding panorama. And the seclusion.

Gold Dirt: A Profile of the Sierra Leone Informal Economy (IV)

Dr. Umaru Bah, CEO

DataWise (SL) Ltd.

@DataWiseSL

*

So Gibril came all the way abroad from United Stay to manage the kompanie. Waste Management Kompanie. That was what they called the kompanie. Waste Management. But the kompanie kind of went to waste. So Gibril Wilson, when he came, he wanted to start all over. Clean out the whole mess. Everything. So he changed the name to Masada. And let go of many, many of us push-kiat garbage workers.

But the old Kompanie still owed us wages. And we had nothing to work with because it owned even the push-kiat we used to haul the garbage. So Gibril took sympathy on us and gave us the push-kiats for free. I painted mine, put my name and motto on it. And that’s how I got my own business.