In August 2023, I received a call that took me back to Koyardu Village, the community where Sierra Leone’s famous 709-carat “Peace Diamond” was discovered in 2017. My long-time collaborator, Santigie Bayo Dumbuya, founder of We Yone Child Foundation, recommended me to Janne Körkkö, a photo and video journalist from Yle Broadcast, one of Finland’s biggest media companies.
Janne came to Sierra Leone to work on a few stories: revisiting the legacy of the Peace Diamond and documenting the rise of Kush, a dangerous synthetic drug devastating communities and the former child soldiers. I was contracted as a fixer and local journalist to identify sources, coordinate interviews, interpret, and support the reporting process.
Returning to Koyardu
Before Janne’s arrival, I travelled to Koyardu to reconnect with the community. In 2017, the 709-carat diamond was sold at auction in New York for $6.5 million (£4.8 million). Half of the proceeds, about $3.8 million, was reportedly set aside for development projects in the village.
Six years later, there was little to show. The school was not well finished, clinics, or visible infrastructure that was well equipped. Many villagers didn’t want to talk. They felt abandoned and hurt.
As a fixer, my role went beyond logistics. It involved rebuilding trust. I explained to community members why sharing their story mattered that people around the world wanted to know what happened after the headlines. After long discussions, they agreed to speak.
Meeting Johnbull
One of the key interviews was with Komba Johnbull, the young man who discovered the diamond. I met him at his welding shop in Calaba Town, Freetown. Initially, he refused to talk. His life had changed since 2017, not entirely for the better.
After a private conversation, he agreed to share his experience. Standing just steps from where he once found the diamond, we took a photo together. It reminded me that fixers often bridge the gap between silence and storytelling.
The Kush Crisis
The second story focused on the rise of Kush, a cheap synthetic drug that is destroying young lives across Sierra Leone. For this, I helped identify victims and families willing to speak. Their stories were painful of addiction, lost opportunities, and communities struggling to cope.
As a journalist, it was heartbreaking to hear how deeply this crisis has affected young people. It’s a reminder of the urgent conversations that need to happen about youth, drugs, and the future of the country.
Working with Janne Körkkö
The two weeks working with Janne were both intense and inspiring. His humility, humor, and dedication stood out. Together, we interviewed ex-combatants, former child soldiers, heads of secret societies, community leaders, and families whose lives were shaped by both the diamond and the drug. For me, this work is more than journalism. It’s about giving people the courage to tell their stories, even when the world has moved on. It’s about making sure their voices are heard
This experience reinforced the critical role of local journalists and fixers in international reporting. We are more than translators or guides we are cultural interpreters and connectors who make stories possible.
Janne will be presenting materials from Sierra Leone from 2013-2023 at his master’s party on October 18th. I am wishing him the very best.