On the road in Sierra Leone with Bombali’s ‘bike ladies’

In Sierra Leone’s Bombali district, Mariama Timbo emerges as a striking symbol of hope on her pink motorbike, ferrying people and goods to Makeni despite being the sole female motorcyclist in her province. After escaping sexual abuse and feeling unsafe in male-dominated settings, she now champions a program by eWomen Sierra Leone, which empowers young women through empowerment initiatives inspired by her own experience of learning to ride. This initiative offers women a safer alternative to walking home or relying on dangerous male drivers, highlighting the transformative power of motorcycles in breaking barriers and fostering independence across Africa.