32 Years Since the Death of Salami Coker


In December 1992, Salami Coker was working as an admin manager at the Ports Authority of Sierra Leone.

Salami was born to Alieu Badara Coker and Maimuna Ayoub on November 22, 1945.

He attended primary school in the east end of Freetown and later went to CMS Grammar School. According to his mother, Salami helped support his family as a boy by selling akara, sardines, sugar, and butter. He excelled in sports, becoming an athlete, boxer, and champion weightlifter.

After graduating from the East 15 Acting School, now affiliated with the University of Essex, Salami made significant contributions to theater, television, and film. He later became a member of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom.

Salami wrote, directed, and acted in various theaters across the U.K., as well as local theaters in Sierra Leone. His peers included the playwright and poet Amadu Pat Mahdi.

He gained international recognition when selected to act in award-winning films such as "Sinbad: Eye of the Tiger" (1977) and "Born Free" (1974). Salami also appeared in numerous television commercials and hosted several programs on radio and television in Sierra Leone.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, Salami was a member of the Ojeh Society, the Hunting Society, and other social organizations in Sierra Leone. He was married to Cynthia, a midwife, and they had five children and seven grandchildren.


In a significant announcement, a commission of inquiry in Sierra Leone held the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) accountable for extrajudicial killings that occurred in 1992. The junta's attempts to justify these executions retrospectively, claiming that the 26 individuals executed were alleged coup plotters, was deemed an unlawful abuse of executive power by the Commission.

Specifically, the Commission found that Solomon A.J. Musa, the deputy chairman of the NPRC, was personally responsible for acts of torture against detainees. The Commission condemned the executions as a blatant violation of international standards.


Among those executed on December 29, 1992, were:

- Lt. Col. James Yaya Kanu, former commanding officer of the 4th Battalion

- James Bambay Kamara, former Inspector General of Police

- Corporal Mohammed Mansaray, known as Candapa from the 1st Battalion

- Warrant Officer Class 1 Kargbo, also known as Fernando from the 1st Battalion headquarters

- Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd.) Kahota M.S. Dumbuya, Army Headquarters

- Major (Rtd.) M.C. Jalloh, former Paymaster

- Captain Hanciles Bangura, Quartermaster at the Benguema Training Centre

- Mr. Chernor Jan Jalloh of Thunder Hill

- Mr. S. Samba

- Sieh Bangura, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Second-in-charge, "D" Division, Kissy Police Station)

- Sub Inspector D.T.S. Lebbie, Kissy Police Station

- Mr. Salami Coker, 8 Huggin Street, Freetown

- Mr. Victor Jarret, 37 Campbell Street, Wellington

- Ms. Salamatu Kamara, 7 Huggin Street, Freetown

- SLA Private Bangura Mohammed, c/o RSLMF

- Mr. Emmanuel E. Mani, 9 Jones Street, Kissy

- Mr. Sorie Bangura, Bangura Street, Lumpa

- Mr. Yapo Conteh, 17 City Road, Wellington

- Sergeant 1315 Conteh A.F., 57 Dundas Street, Freetown

- PC 6819 Bangura S., 3s George Brook, Kissy

- Sergeant 1107 Saffa J., Police Training School, Hastings

- Corporal 407 Lavalie W., Police Training School, Hastings

- Mr. Moses Davies, Police Training School

- Mr. Emmanuel Koroma, Police Training School

- Mr. Foday Turay, Police Training School

- Mr. Sieh Turay, 92 Dundas Street, Freetown



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