"Who were the rebels? We were. They were our brothers, our sisters, our parents. No one could exclude themselves from the context and challenges of the time," says Sinneh, director of radio station SLBC Bo, a Talking Drum Studio partner for 20 years.

Amid the civil war, Talking Drum Studio produced radio programs to inform people and give them hope. The studio supported community radio stations like Sinneh's, and provided them with these programs. "Radio is the poor man's friend. TDS shows brought comfort to the war-affected citizens, giving them hope for a return to peace."

Often, not being spared from the wave of destruction sweeping the country, radio stations were ransacked, but their voices did quiet down for long. "TDS empowered radio stations. When combatants burned down Makeni's station, it moved to the main refugee camp in the north. The studio provided them with equipment to get them up and running again.”

"TDS spoke directly to the rebels and other combatants." The iconic radio drama Atunda Ayenda embodied all sides of the conflict. Still running today, the show touched the hearts of communities and combatants alike. "TDS was invaluable in reaching out to combatants, serving as a trustworthy intermediary to build peace."

The programs allowed all citizens to be heard equally. The stories played out by the actors were their stories. "The Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission found that one of the reasons we went to war was the lack of such platforms. Communication was one-way: from the leaders to the led". This time, TDS carried the voice of the people to their leaders.

Right after the war, transforming minds was all the more relevant to rebuild the country. "All development depends on changing mindsets.” Beyond changing behaviors through programming, TDS also featured individuals who proved that it's never too late to rethink your life.

"We had several broadcasters who were former combatants. They went from being fighters to peaceful citizens, creating an impact by educating others. This is how far TDS has taken the transformation."

Today, Sinneh keeps broadcasting TDS radio shows. The problems they talk about have evolved with time, but the transformation is still on and the method has stayed consistent. "They go to hard-to-reach places, stop the car, walk with all their equipment and bring us these stories to broadcast, the voices of our people."