Methodology
This chapter draws upon in-depth interviews conducted with 14 former child soldiers turned bike riders in three provincial towns: eight from Makeni, five from Bo, and one from Kenema.
The participants were between 21 and 35 years old at the time of the interviews. All respondents had been forcibly recruited by an armed group when they were very young (ranging between 10 and 17 years of age) and remained with the armed group for periods ranging from two to approximately 5 years. Only four of the participants had benefited from a disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program in the aftermath of the war.Open-ended qualitative interviews with the 14 participants were conducted by the second author in 2011. Interviews, which were conducted in Krio and English, were audio-recorded with permission and later transcribed. A key aim of the interviews was to gain an understanding of participants' post-conflict realities, and reintegration experiences, but also their reflections and interpretations of these experiences. Questions posed to participants explored their lives and experiences since the end of the war, as well as their daily lives as Okada riders, particularly in relation to livelihoods, social relations, community opportunities and challenges, and future goals.
Participants were found through local social workers who were engaged in community outreach in each town. Social workers facilitated introductions to six individual bike riders who became participants. The remaining eight participants were found through the local Bike Riders Association (BRA). Two leaders of a local BRA initially suggested eight individuals who were interested in participating in the study. However, prior to interviews, it was learned that all eight individuals were part of the BRA's Executive Council, representing those with greater power and control within the BRA structure. To ensure a variety of rider viewpoints, the researcher suggested that the BRA propose a mix of potential participants from multiple positions and perspectives. One BRA leader wanted to sit in on an interview with a bike rider prior to allowing others to be involved in the research (this interview was subsequently not included as part of the research). The recruitment process and the involvement of the BRA executive in that process shed light not only on the power relations inherent to the bike riding industry but also the relative power of BRA executive members. The BRA's involvement in the selection of eight participants needs to be taken into account when considering the study's findings, and the data can in no way be generalized to the broader population of bike riders. Nonetheless, the data do offer a vital spotlight on the realities, opportunities, and challenges of local Okadariders and the implications of Big Man politics in their daily lives.
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