Usifu Jalloh, widely known as “The Cowfoot Prince,” is an award-winning Sierra Leonean storyteller, performer, and educator with over two decades of international experience. Renowned for his dynamic and immersive storytelling style, Jalloh integrates language, music, dance, and cross-cultural narratives to engage diverse audiences worldwide. Rooted in the rich oral traditions of Sierra Leone, his work reflects a deep commitment to preserving and promoting African heritage.

Born in Kamakwie in the Karene District of northern Sierra Leone, Jalloh draws early inspiration from his grandmother, Mammy Foyre Bangura, whose storytelling profoundly shaped his artistic journey. His talents were further nurtured through active participation in performance arts during his education at Services Primary School, Prince of Wales Secondary School, and St. Edward’s Secondary School. Mentorship from influential figures such as Denise Nelson Streeter, Charlie Haffner, and the late Dele Charlie played a pivotal role in refining his craft.

 

Jalloh is the founder of the Maambena Festival in Kamakwie and the National Storytelling Festival in Sierra Leone, both of which serve as important platforms for celebrating and sustaining the country’s oral traditions. His creative portfolio includes co-authoring and co-producing the acclaimed play Sweet Peter, which explores themes of slavery, colonialism, and conflict in Sierra Leone. He has also authored Matonkoni Tales, a collection developed as part of the Urban Health UK “Rethinking Evidence” project, focusing on children’s behaviour and early development.

His recent collaborations include the documentary The Cowfoot Prince, produced with director Bex Singleton and the National Film and Television School, and the production of One Cowrie Shell, an epic narrative developed over four years. Jalloh has also performed in the award-winning stage production The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives at the Arcola Theatre.

 

Beyond performance, Jalloh contributes significantly to education, research, and public engagement. He has delivered keynote lectures at UK universities, presented at TEDxLSTM on “Unknown Destinations,” and worked extensively with institutions such as the BBC, British Library, WHO, and the Obama Foundation. His broadcasting work includes BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4, as well as the impactful radio programme Pikin to Pikin Tok, addressing health and social issues among children in Sierra Leone.

 

Jalloh is actively involved in research and cultural preservation initiatives. He collaborated on the Coventry City of Culture 2021 exhibition This is Africa and is engaged in a decolonising research project with SOAS University of London and international partners, examining colonial ethnographic archives. He currently serves as lead researcher for the Heritage Resilience Project in the Midlands, UK.

 

Having performed and facilitated workshops across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, Jalloh continues to influence global audiences through storytelling as a tool for education, healing, and cultural exchange. A recipient of the “Most Outstanding Sierra Leonean” award, he is now working towards establishing cultural centres across Sierra Leone to promote cultural renaissance, education, and sustainable rural tourism.