"I played many roles. Like Sally chop-chop, a famous fighter, so-called because of her bloodthirsty deeds in wartime. A wild and ruthless role," recalls Isata.

As a young girl, Isata was passionate about theater. She could portray a multitude of different characters effortlessly. In 2000, Talking Drum Studio held auditions for its new radio drama, Atunda Ayenda. Isata was the perfect candidate.

During the war, the drama got people to think about possible solutions on the air and in real life. "There was no cell phone yet; it was the radio that brought people together. When there were TDS programs, people would gather and stay glued to the radio."

With time, Isata broadened her skills. She was entrusted with the direction of Olu, “her baby” as she calls it, a program designed to promote the education of children and adolescents. Isata travelled across the country to train children in theater. "The children were hosting the show. We, the adults, were there to train them, accompany them. It wasn't easy, but there was so much enthusiasm. These kids wanted their voices to be heard."

Isata got involved in other programs for children and youth, enabling them to explain current events through their eyes. She, too, found herself immersed in their reality. "So much has been revealed. I learned a lot about the war through these kids, what got us there, what drove people to take part in the fighting."

"Among them were regular children but also former child soldiers from different factions or young girls who had been sexually abused. The stories they told often reflected their own."

Today, the children of Olu have grown up. Isata remembers them fondly. "Some of them have graduated; others are embarking on doctorates. The radio programs have helped shape their lives."

Today, Talking Drum is firmly rooted in the present, with programs tailored to current conflict issues. It also is an invaluable memorial of the conflicts of the past. Thousands of voices from across the country for over two decades, providing an inspiring model for bringing people together, even when all hope seems lost. "Everything we worked on is still relevant today. Young people who didn't experience the war should listen to our early episodes; there is so much to learn from the life stories of the time."

Isata is at the heart of preserving this legacy. She is now the coordinator of a partner organization, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, and a member of the TDS Board of Directors. The studio, created by Search for Common Ground, has now become an independent local entity in its own right. "Talking Drum is continuing the work that has been going on for 20 years."