Twenty one year old Aminata Koroma from Winnipeg city is the host for this year's 3rd annual Sierra Leone Awards 2008 in Winnipeg, Canada.

This was announced yesterday by the directors of 40 Acres Productions at the company's 343 Hargrave Street store complex in Winnipeg.

The University of Winnipeg prelim student who simply goes by the 'aka' name Ya Amie will go down in history as not only the youngest MC to ever host this prestigious award but will also be the first woman to pilot the Sierra Leone Awards in Winnipeg.

Quite unassuming, Ya Amie entered the limelight as nobody and eventually emerged as somebody in the community.

I spoke to Ms. Koroma just moment after she was named this year's main M.C. for the awards.

"I'm more than happy to be the 40 Acres' choice to host the 2008 awards nite," She said calmly.

Can you handle the crowd, the pressure and above all, the fun for the nite? I teased her.

"Why not?" Ya Amie continued, smiling. "I see no reason why I can't do it. In fact, it's going to be fun for me all night long." Her selection as host for the 2008 awards nite came as a surprise to some people, not because of doubts she'll not be able to handle the pressure of mcing a big event like an award but why a young woman doing the awards nite for the very first time.

40 Acres Productions' director of public relations G. Koroma and director of finances Abu Bakarr Kamara aka 'Biggie Smalls' have singled out that the 2008 awards nite should come with a unique difference and will be presented by a young woman in the community.

The two directors have also insisted that this young woman will be someone who has total control of the English language plus other qualities.

That list started with about twenty young Sierra Leonean women and eventually narrowed to one; Aminata Koroma.

Ten awards including 'man of the year,' 'woman of the year,' 'student of the year,' 'business of the year' and 'community group of the year,' etc. will be awarded to distinctive personalities in the Sierra Leonean community in Winnipeg, Canada, who have contributed to the development of the society.

The awards nite is scheduled to take place on Saturday November 29th, 2008 at the prestigious Dakota Hotel commencing 8pm prompt.

The nite will be followed with performances by Sierra Leonean performing artists including blind musical maestro MB Atilla.