mgid.com, 751172, DIRECT, d4c29acad76ce94f

Salone Messenger

Famous People From Sierra Leone- The Story of Maria Bradford

Post Views: 937
Sallu Kamuskay
By Sallu Kamuskay  - Journalist and Public Relations Expert 4 Min Read
4 Min Read
Maria Bradford | ANTONIO OLMOS Photographer
Maria Bradford | ANTONIO OLMOS Photographer

Maria Bradford was born in Freetown, but has lived in London for many years. She is a very popular chef and has established herself as the visionary behind Shwen Shwen, a catering company specializing in Sierra Leonean and Afro-fusion cuisine.

Maria Bradford
Maria Bradford

In 2023, she made her debut as an author with the release of her cookbook, “Sweet Salone” – if you follow our newsletter, you’ll already know about her! She is part of the new generation of chefs spearheading the diffusion of creative West African cuisine in Europe and beyond.

Maria Bradford: A Culinary Journey Bridging Cultures

Maria Bradford’s culinary journey is a captivating blend of her Sierra Leonean heritage, formal training at Leiths School of Food and Wine, and a relentless passion for sharing the diverse flavors of Sierra Leone with the world. Her story is one of cultural connection and culinary innovation.

Nurturing a Culinary Identity

Maria’s culinary journey began in the vibrant landscapes of Sierra Leone, where her childhood experiences with traditional dishes laid the foundation for her future endeavors. Growing up in Freetown, she developed a deep connection with the local cuisine, which inspired her to pursue a career in cooking.“I was born and raised in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. I have many fond childhood memories, mainly related to my fascination with age-old African recipes. Discovering fresh, local, flavorsome ingredients and cooking for my family and friends fueled my enduring love for the taste of home. This passion has led me to turn my lifelong love of food into a fulfilling business, bringing the reinvention of African dishes to a broader audience. This is my calling, and I love it!” – Maria Bradford

Crafting Culinary Expertise

Maria further honed her culinary skills by attending Leiths School of Food and Wine in the United Kingdom, an award-winning institution renowned for its comprehensive programs. While formal education refined her techniques, Maria emphasizes that she learned how to cook in Sierra Leone.

A Cultural Ambassador of Sierra Leonean Cuisine

Driven by a deep love for her cultural roots, Maria founded Shwen Shwen, a platform dedicated to showcasing the rich and diverse cuisine of Sierra Leone. Shwen Shwen acts as a cultural bridge, offering dining, catering, an online store, and “Sweet Salone: Recipes from the Heart of Sierra Leone,” which presents original recipes and aspects of Sierra Leonean food history.

Recognizing Culinary Prowess

Maria has received numerous accolades for her contributions to culinary arts. National Geographic has acknowledged her role in sharing the distinct tastes of Sierra Leonean food. Foodism magazine celebrated her passion for exploring and expanding Sierra Leonean cuisine. The Independent commended her efforts to introduce these flavors to a broader audience, contributing to London’s cultural tapestry.

Creating a Culinary Legacy

Maria is recognized as Salone’s ambassador of food, heritage, and culture. Her vision is for Freetown, Sierra Leone, to become a Culinary Capital. Until then, she continues to work with stakeholders to elevate Sierra Leone’s position on the global food map. As a contributor to Great British Chefs, Maria shares her expertise both in the UK and globally, further solidifying her reputation as a culinary innovator.Maria’s journey from Sierra Leone to becoming a culinary ambassador demonstrates the power of food to connect people across cultures. For more information, visit www.shwenshwen.com.

Stay Updated

Share this Article
By Sallu Kamuskay Journalist and Public Relations Expert
Follow:
Sallu Kamuskay is a Sierra Leonean communication strategist, fixer, blogger, youth organiser, event manager, spokesperson, and public relations expert. His work has been regularly referenced and published by national and international media and public policy institutions. Sallu Kamuskay was a child during the brutal war in Sierra Leone. Growing up in the midst of conflict, Sallu witnessed unimaginable abuse of children and gross violations of human rights. The horrors he witnessed during the Civil War had a terrible impact on him at a very tender age. But despite the shock of the war, Sallu never lost hope. He started on a journey of recovery, studying, and working for a better future. At age 15, Sallu entered into the world of activism and advocacy. Sallu Kamuskay was the Vice President of the Young Leaders Organisation, a member of the National Youth Council. The Young Leaders is one of the oldest youth-led organisations in West Africa. The organisation was formed by a group of young leaders, and launched by the then Head of State/President of Sierra Leone. Sallu was part of the group of young leaders who participated in and contributed to the establishment of the National Youth Council. The Commonwealth supported the training for trainers programme with line ministries and youth stakeholders in which key, representatives of youth council, student union and civil society/private sector youth platforms were engaged and empowered in the effective engagement and inclusion of youth. Sallu is co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global multimedia and public relations firm based In Sierra Leone. Sallu has worked on various developmental and policy issues such as Poverty, Climate Change, Human rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Gender Equality, Civic Engagement, Government policies, Information Communication Technology for Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and has also been contributing to various global events and advocacy campaigns. Sallu Kamuskay is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Salone Messenger, a global Multimedia and Public Relations Firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information, on top stories, business, politics, entertainment, and more. Sallu is working with a leading technology company in Africa, Techfrica, that has recently developed and launched a social media, messaging Supfrica with over 150,000 downloads on the Google play store in less than 4 days. He is the Adviser and Media coordinator for the App to give people the platform to connect and communicate to help shape their future with a very fast internet that allows users that live in deprived and hard-to-reach areas with poor internet facility to be able to communicate as it allows and stronger on 2 and 3 G network reception. Sallu has over 9 years of experience in youth engagement, inclusion, and coordination both at local and global levels, giving voice to young people and engaging young people to build a better world. He has served as coordinator for the Wave Alliance which brought together youth-led organisations who attended an international training in South Africa organized by the International Organization – Waves for Change. Sallu is working with the MLT, Waves For Change, and the Government to develop safe spaces for young people, with a view to contributing to the overall development goals of young people including health, as well as to community rebuilding. Sallu is currently the Programme Director for the Wave Alliance, which is a coalition of youth-led and community-based organisations that have successfully introduced evidence-based Surf Therapy programs to young people in communities, with a focus on mental health, peace building and sustainable development. Sallu is currently the focal point and face of Africa’s Faces Social media platform which is a global Social media platform that brings together people from across the world to share their moments, connect, share videos, and interact with friends giving more preference to excluded continents like Africa. Sallu Kamuskay has devoted his time to working for or contributing to a number of national and international organizations and companies, including the Techfrica Technology Company, United Nations, ECOWAS, European Union, Commonwealth Africa Initiatives. This work has led him to travel to a number of countries to contribute to global youth platforms. Sallu is the lead Coordinator for Peace Tour programme, an initiative supported by the European Union, Africa Union, ECOWAS focusing on uniting and empowering young people and local communities. Over the years, Sallu Kamuskay has been using his Techno phone to be able to tell stories, the phone he used to tell the story of Gbessay during Ebola who was admitted at one of the Ebola treatment centers after rumors that she had Ebola when the actual sickness was ulcer, she was almost abandoned at the treatment canter with no medication provided to her. She could have died. Sallu told the story via social media and was able to secure funding from the United Sierra Leone to buy her medication and advocated for her. She was later discharged and taken home, He did the same to a patient that died and was abandoned in the street, Sallu Kamuskay used his phone and shared the message across, the corps was later taken and buried. It could have been more disaster without his voice. The story of late America Stress 3-year-old daughter. The hero’s daughter was abandon after his father's death. He shared her sad story and was able to get a sister who has taken the child as her own and is currently providing her with educational support. The article of America Stress can be read on the link below http://ayvnewspaper.com/index.php/k2-categories/item/7350-america-stress-a-hero-to-recognize. Sallu Kamuskay feels the stories of Gbessay, America stress and that of many others need to be told. The media house we have cannot better tell these stories, they are better reporters than telling human interest stories. He created the Salone Messenger platform and brought together passionate storytellers to be able to tell these compelling stories.