Zimbabwe’s reigning Mister Africa International Zimbabwe candidate, King Future Nyoni, has set his eyes on the big prize of the pageant: winning the title of “Mister Africa International” and becoming the brand ambassador for the organization.

Nyoni, along with other contestants, was officially sashed on the 16th of December in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in front of the Minister of Tourism and Culture of Sierra Leone. After being sashed, the delegates had the opportunity to visit one of Sierra Leone’s unique institutions, The Peace Museum, located in Freetown.

The Peace Museum is a legacy project of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. It is an independent national institution dedicated to preserving the history of the country’s decade-long conflict and the story of the peace process, aimed at breaking the culture of silence surrounding this part of Sierra Leone’s history.

This ensures that the country learns the lessons necessary to prevent a recurrence, while keeping alive the memory of the war’s victims. The vision of the museum aligns with King Nyoni’s mission of bringing unity within the continent, encouraging people to work together toward the development of Africa. His vision extends further to uniting the world in ending civil wars across the continent, which he views as barriers preventing children from accessing quality education.

Nyoni is currently working alongside a non-governmental organization called PAWA in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). PAWA’s main focus is on securing donations to construct temporary schools and supply learning materials to children pursuing their education in refugee camps.

Focusing particularly on North Kivu province, Goma, in the DRC, Nyoni aims to expand his vision to the Sahel region and other parts of the continent. In an interaction with My Afrika Magazine, King Nyoni described the Peace Museum as a hidden gem that bridges the past and the present, helping people make informed decisions.

“The Peace Museum is a hidden gem in Africa; it holds historic, powerful stories that play a big role in our day-to-day lives. It’s not just a museum; it’s a space where history comes alive, offering a profound glimpse into the strength and resilience of Sierra Leone as a nation and of Africa. The museum is also a symbol of pride,” said Nyoni.

“Getting to know each piece of work and documentary in the museum, I felt deeply connected to my charity and community project in the DRC, a country that is still battling a decade of civil wars,” he added. Nyoni further emphasized that the lessons of how Sierra Leone recovered from civil war, particularly their efforts in campaigning for children’s access to quality education during and after the war, inspired him to identify key angles for his project.

“The museum holds stories and lessons we should learn from as a continent, as it reminds us of the consequences of civil wars, including children missing out on schools,” said Nyoni. He encouraged everyone to visit the museum, stating that it is a place where valuable lessons can be learned to benefit the entire continent.

The first phase of the Peace Museum consists of three components:

1. The Introductory Exhibition, which features the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), war relic artifacts, photos and stories of war amputees, contributions from the TRC’s National Vision Project, and a documentary titled “Seeds of Justice”.
2. The Archives, which serve as a research resource on the nation’s conflict and include the records of the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the TRC.
3. The Memorial Garden, a space for reflection and remembrance. It features a tent, peace pole, green spaces, tomb-like structures, and a peace bridge.