Heartbeat of Susan’s Bay

Tena Kabba

In the heart of Susan’s bay in Freetown, lies the wooden fishing boat. It carries the soul of the community, and its being is etched in the rhythms of daily life. It is an elderly storyteller, weathered yet wise and its body marked by years of service and survival. Its brightly coloured surface is now peeling and wrinkled. Each layer of its skin whispering of storms endured and mornings spent chasing horizons.

Watching at the boats, I feel grounded and humbled. Its resilience, and quiet strength has helped carry generations across the Atlantic waves. Every dawn, it promises a new chance for families to eat, trade and thrive. Resting on the sandy shore during low tide with net draped across its sides majestically like a shawl, it waits patiently for fisherman’s hands. Children play nearby, their laughter mingling with the chatter of men preparing for the day’s work. Behind it, Susan’s Bay rises in a patchwork of crowded houses, corrugated roofs and bustling water life. The boat looks regal, an anchor of quietude amidst chaos.

In Susan’s Bay, the fishing boat is more than wood and nails. it is an enduring companion to the people, and a reminder that even in hardship, there is dignity in persistence. It carries the heartbeat of the community steady and unwavering like a guardian of past and future.