| To many observers in Sierra Leone it came as a real | | | | others not only in Sierra Leone but also throughout |
| surprise and shock that one of the country's shortest | | | | the world. "That will be an easy venture for me, |
| women wedding would have drawn such a massive | | | | because I already have television drama experience |
| public attention and interest. Last April wedding | | | | on the Wan Pot TV show. I can act and I am a very |
| between Masire Kamara and Mohamed Basiru Alghali | | | | good actress and people like me a lot. So I can in no |
| was a stunner in every respect; thousands of Sierra | | | | doubt be a hit, just trust me," she said confidently. |
| Leoneans thronged the streets of the Freetown to | | | | She claimed she left the Wan Pot Comedy Show |
| see the wedding which had already garnered huge | | | | because she was not paid well. "They always come |
| media attention in the build up to the ceremony. | | | | and convince me to go and act but they just give |
| Thousands more watched the wedding ceremony | | | | me chicken change, so I had to quit but now I think I |
| that was broadcast live on SLBS TV, the ceremony | | | | have the opportunity to do it my way now." |
| was not only the main news of the day it was also | | | | On his part, Masire's husband Basiru confessed that |
| the talk of the town and Masire, the dwarf woman | | | | he was captivated to her because she was very nice |
| that captivated the attention of Sierra Leone was in | | | | to him. "She was very caring to me and wasted no |
| buoyant mood and she portrayed an undoubted lively | | | | time to show me she loved me. She cooked well for |
| and cheerful mood in front of the camera and the | | | | me, assisted me in my needs and she also provided |
| huge crowd. Her message was clear to journalists | | | | shelter for me. So I say to myself that since I have |
| that day as she told the whole world that: "To those | | | | never had someone so caring and loving to me, then |
| who think it was a lie that I wasn't going to get | | | | why I can't just stay with her for life? She was |
| married, shame on you," she said mockingly. | | | | definitely ready to go all length to satisfy me and |
| A glittering wedding ceremony that was supported | | | | although I am unemployed she was always there for |
| by many admirers including the President and Vice | | | | me expecting nothing but love from me. So the only |
| President was capped later by an official visit to | | | | way I was going to pay her back was to accept her |
| State House by Masire and his newly wedded | | | | hand in marriage and make her feel proud to the |
| husband in which they met with President Ernest Bai | | | | world." Asked whether his main was only to benefit |
| Koroma who lauded Masire and encouraged the | | | | from Masire, Basiru nodded a big no; "I think I love |
| couple to be a good example to Sierra Leone. To | | | | her and I was happy to do it and my dream was to |
| many in Sierra Leone Masire's brisk humour and tiny | | | | have a happy family." |
| size may be the main source of attention, but in a | | | | On hopes of landing the TV deal or contract, Basiru |
| world of information technology news of Masire's | | | | said they have no doubt that it will be it will be |
| wedding spread quickly throughout the world. On the | | | | forthcoming sooner rather than later; "This was |
| day the Freetown BBC reporter posted news of | | | | something we were expecting that is why we have |
| Masire's wedding on the BBC News website it was | | | | chosen not to offer plenty information to the public, |
| one the most read story. And many blogs and other | | | | because we hope to offer a much more thorough |
| website including a Wedding site based in UK carried | | | | insight into our lives on a special package." |
| the news and discussed it on their forum. The last | | | | On the darker side of life, Masire revealed to Sierra |
| Google search Sierra Eye did for Masire Kamara | | | | Eye that life has not been that rosy since her |
| returned 3,320 results. | | | | famous wedding. "It has been really tough for me |
| Almost a year after their well publicised wedding, | | | | and my family; I don't like to depend on others |
| Masire and her husband reveals to Sierra Eye in an | | | | always so that is why I sell cooked foo foo now." |
| exclusive interview how their lives has been going on | | | | Masire said that she has endured the toughness of |
| and how they aim to cash in on their new found | | | | matrimony and that despite occasional outburst and |
| fame. Speaking to Sierra Eye at their Off Kroo Town | | | | beatings from her husband, she has shown courage |
| Road residence Masire who now sells foo foo was | | | | and adapted to the tough challenges she is facing. |
| very lively as she welcomed Sierra Eye into her | | | | On a sour note, she revealed that since she last |
| apartment. "You are welcome to our place," she said. | | | | gave birth to her one and only son she was stopped |
| Masire started by telling how she met her husband, | | | | by doctors from giving birth on medical grounds; "I |
| Basiru and according to her she fell in love with him | | | | love my husband and would have loved to have him |
| because of stress. "My former boyfriend who is the | | | | a child, but I cannot do that now," she said. |
| father of my son use to give me so much | | | | All is not lost for Masire who has a 14 year old |
| headaches and there are times I got so sick because | | | | dwarfish son, David Young a.k.a. Junior who was born |
| he was giving me a lot of bad treatments. Luckily for | | | | to Masire's previous boyfriend and on appearance |
| me one Sunday, I went for a stroll at Sander Street | | | | there is no difference between Junior and his mother. |
| where I met Basiru and I felt so good when he told | | | | "My other concern is my 14 year old son Junior. I |
| me he loves me and just some few months later | | | | want him to get the best education and if I have my |
| after he had come to put up with me in my house, | | | | way I will like him to go and get education overseas." |
| he proposed to me and I was the most happiest | | | | She said. |
| woman on earth," said Masire. She revealed that | | | | In a very interesting revelation, Masire said she |
| during the countdown to the wedding she was filled | | | | thought that after marriage, life was going to be |
| with an unexpected sense of enthusiasm. "I was | | | | rosy for her; "I will never forget the joy of riding in |
| receiving calls from here and there, journalists where | | | | air-conditioned jeeps with security all around us, we |
| coming to me for interviews and we also received | | | | went from one luxurious place to another and for a |
| offers of help for the wedding. It was the biggest | | | | day I felt like a special one because everywhere we |
| blessing in life for me, I wish my mother the late Boie | | | | went we were not only adored but we were |
| Paris was alive to see all what happened because | | | | escorted by huge crowds. I believe that even the |
| everywhere I turned people shout Masire, Masire, | | | | president was jealous of us that day because we |
| Masire. We had to hire security in the countdown to | | | | really stole everyone's attention. Someone called my |
| the wedding because it was like every other person | | | | husband from the UK afterwards and said he heard I |
| around us was in a crazy mood to see our marriage." | | | | am a celebrity in Sierra Leone, of course I am |
| Masire revealed that she was angered by the wrong | | | | because people know me everywhere I go." |
| perception many people had in the countdown to the | | | | Despite her excitements, Masire who now have an |
| wedding, "At first some people thought we were | | | | agent who negotiate on her behalf made it clear that |
| only trying to seek media attention, others thought | | | | more than ever she wants to ensure she cashed in |
| we were joking and that makes me feel disgusted | | | | on her new-found fame so her life will become |
| because I think it was not fair to us for others to | | | | better. "Some people have said that I have gone to |
| think that way. That is why President Koroma | | | | London and elsewhere with my husband after our |
| praised us, when we visited him at State House, he | | | | marriage, I wish they were saying the truth. I want |
| was so happy for us and we too were so happy to | | | | to go to overseas – America, Europe and |
| meet with him." | | | | everywhere so please help me if you can," she said |
| On future prospect, Masire told Sierra Eye that they | | | | anxiously. |
| hope to secure a TV deal or a documentary deal | | | | As we left Masire's apartment, it was back to reality |
| because they have a particularly special story to tell | | | | for her as she hurriedly ran to her foo foo pot to |
| the world that despite her tiny stature she has still | | | | serve the needs of awaiting customers most of |
| managed to get wedded to her husband and she | | | | whom were visibly angry as they had waited for |
| thinks that is a great story that can inspire many | | | | such a relatively long time. |