By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Motherhood in present-day Sierra Leone remains one of the most demanding and complex roles a woman can hold. In communities like Lungi, mothers carry enormous responsibilities that extend far beyond nurturing their children. They are breadwinners, caretakers, teachers, and emotional anchors often doing all of this with little support and limited resources. The cost of living continues to rise, and many mothers struggle daily to balance survival with providing a decent upbringing for their children.
For women like Emmah Conteh, a single mother of four in Lungi, every day begins before dawn and ends long after sunset. “I hawk bread in the streets of Lungi in the morning and grand nuts in the afternoon every day to take care of my children,” she explained. “Their father left years ago, and everything depends on me. Sometimes I go to bed without eating just to make sure the children have something.” Emma’s story is not unique; it reflects the realities of countless women across Sierra Leone who shoulder the full weight of parenting.
Cultural expectations often place the primary caregiving burden on women. Many fathers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, still see child-rearing as solely a mother’s duty. This imbalance leaves women emotionally and physically drained. Health challenges also complicate the picture maternal healthcare, though improving, still faces limitations. Postnatal depression and stress are rarely discussed, and support systems for mothers remain weak.
However, the conversation around fatherhood is slowly changing. Some men are beginning to recognize that parenting is not a woman’s job alone. According to Morlai Kamara, a bike rider and father of five, “I used to think my wife was supposed to handle everything at home, but I’ve learned that helping her makes life easier for both of us. When I bathe the children or help them with schoolwork, it makes my wife happy and brings peace to the house.” His statement reflects a growing awareness among Sierra Leonean men about the importance of shared parenting.
Nurse Amina of Lungi Bai Bureh hospital and Mr Bangura worker in the Lungi Airport Authority in Lungi emphasize that when fathers actively participate, children tend to perform better in school and develop stronger emotional stability. Simple acts like accompanying mothers to health checkups, helping with household chores, or simply being emotionally present go a long way in easing the burden on mothers. Fatherhood should not be defined by financial provision alone, but also by involvement, patience, and partnership.
Economic pressures also affect family dynamics. Many men migrate to Freetown or other towns in search of jobs, leaving their wives to manage the homefront alone. In such cases, long-distance fatherhood often weakens emotional bonds and increases the weight on mothers. The community must therefore foster dialogue around shared parenting responsibilities and encourage men to see domestic care as a sign of strength, not weakness.
In a changing Sierra Leone, where women continue to advance in education and professional life, the role of fathers must evolve too. True progress will come when both parents share the joys and burdens of raising children together. Mothers should not have to bear it all alone, and fathers must step forward — not just as providers, but as partners.
As Sierra Leone builds a future centered on equality and shared responsibility, supporting mothers is everyone’s duty. When fathers become more engaged and communities appreciate the unseen labor of women, families grow stronger — and so does the nation.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 5th Noverber 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
