From Kailahun to Kono: Diana Finda Konomanyi’s Path to Peace and Unity
By Karamoh Kabba
“Growing up in a rural town my late father, FD Konomanyi, campioned to develop into a city, I always dreamed of exploring the world beyond the familiar streets of my childhood. Little did I know that a single road trip across Sierra Leone in search of peace and unity would help to unite my Party, the APC, and an audacious hope for my people in Kono. My journey across Sierra Leone recounts a journey of self-discovery, the challenges I faced, and the invaluable lessons I learned along the way about peace and unity will hopefully be invaluable to my country.”
- Diana Konomanyi
Diana Finda Konomanyi is not “just a beautiful head on shoulders.” While her grace is undeniable, it is her intellect, innovation, determination, and selfless commitment to service that truly set her apart. She is, quite simply, a force of nature, a blend of elegance and purpose.
Like a modern-day Mansa Musa, Diana has journeyed across Sierra Leone, not with gold, but with a wealth of ideas and a unifying message of peace. At every stop, her words and actions have inspired women and communities alike, stitching together a national fabric of hope.
The culmination of her Peace and Unity Tour took place in Kono District, where she gathered a constellation of the APC’s finest chairladies, capping a journey in Kono that began in Kailahun, on Saturday, 28 June 2025, at the APC District Office Hall on Yardu Road in Koidu New Sembehun City. It was filled to capacity and observers even remarked that the crowd outside rivaled the one inside.
Her tour began with a powerful gathering in Kailahun alongside Madam Alice Tutu, Kono District Chairlady. She proceeded to Kenema, joined by chairladies from Kono and Kailahun, and then to Port Loko, where Kenema joined in. By the time she arrived in Kono, the momentum was undeniable, the movement had grown into a unified sisterhood of leaders, standing together for peace and unity.
As an invited observer, I witnessed two stops firsthand: in Makeni and Falaba. What struck me most was Diana’s unwavering sense of purpose. At every stop, she not only shared her vision but also ensured comfort and dignity for everyone present, providing food, transportation, accommodation, and a sense of belonging. Like Mansa Musa, she left abundance in her wake, not material wealth, but unity and inspiration.
In Kono, my home and base, I needed no invitation. I had already embraced the vision, and I was honored to play a role in organizing the final leg of the tour. While no official crowd count tool was available, estimates placed attendance in the tens of thousands.
The unity Diana inspired was undeniable. Traditional performers like the Ormojessah Hunting Society and their vibrant ‘Makolo,’ ‘Matorma’ the Limba traditional mask, and ‘Boo-boo Geng’, the Temne one acts infused the event with multi-cultural richness. Supporters from all 14 chiefdoms, 27 wards, and 10 constituencies gathered, singing one song: ‘peace and unity’.
Diana is a maverick: unbranded, unconventional, and audacious in her hope. Not once during the tour did she position herself for 2028. She focused solely on bringing people together and fostering peace and unity.
In a powerful moment, the Chairlady from Pujehun stood and said, “If you don’t want her, give us Diana to take to Pujehun.” I responded: “The crowd in and outside this hall speaks for itself; we want her. But more than that, we give Diana to the nation. Accept her. Embrace her.”
In Kono, she left behind a message whispered among the people: “It’s not easy to be Diana.” Because she walks with the grassroots, speaks with the elites, and engages with diplomats, all without missing a beat.
Sierra Leone, take Diana. Take her with both hands: She is a bearer of hope, peace and unity, and for us in Kono, she will come home to us with the bacon for breakfast, the rice and plasas for lunch and the loaf and tea for dinner.