Figure 1.--Sierra Leone despite the Portugurse name was a British colony. The British used it as a haven for freed slaves just like the Americans settled free slaves in Liberia to the south. This is a postcard image taken in early-20th century. The boys wear loincloths, probably just for the photograph. The podtcard caption read 'Off to school', perhaps their loin cloths were required for school. This may be more of a joke. The Britisj did not attempt to build a comprehensive public school system. There were some missionary schools. As one child has a cross, they could be headed to a missiion school. Source: K.C. Bros.

Sierra Leone is a small West African nation bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. It is surrounded by Guinea in the north and notyheast and Liberia in the south. The coastal terraine is swampy with mangroves facing the ocean. The swampy belt gives way to wooded hills anbd finally grassland plateaus in the interior. There are mountains in the east. Mount Bintumani reaches 6,390 feet (1,948 m). Sierra Leone is well watered with several rivers generally running southeast from the highland plateau to the coast. The country has a tropical climate because it is located just north of the equator. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the area and named it area after the mountains and lions they observed (1460). The area became an important source of captives feeding the Atlantic slave trade (17th-18th centuries). The British established Freetown as a refuge for freed slaves (1787). The British created a crown colony (1808). It became an important base for the Royal Navy in the campaign against the slave trade. The slaves on many intercepted slavers were relesed in Sierra Leone. The colony became a protectorate (1896). Elections were first held (1957). Britain granted independence within the Commonwealth (1961). The country has since suffered from military coups and civil war. Major economic activities include agriculture (rice, coffee, and palm oil) and mining (iron ore and diamonds). As a result of the mineral resources, the Sierra Leone economy has relied heavily on mining. Diamonds have been particularly important. Sierra Leopone is one of many countries in which condiitions actually deteriorated after independence. Mining activity declined (1970s and early-80s) and as a resukt economic growth rate slowed. Increasing Government corruption also disrupted the economy. Economic activity declined (1990s) and the country's infrastructure was significantly degraded. The money economy was largely destroyed in the civil war. With the end of hostilities (January 2002), the economy has begun to recover. The recovery has been aided by forign assistance. A major development project was the Bumbuna Dam. Japan helped to finance a hydroelectric project. A 10-megawatt thermal power generating machine began to provided needed power (2009). The population consists of some 20 African ethnic groups. The Temne dominate the north and the Mende are the major southern tribe. Only about 2 percent of the population is Krio, descendants of freed slaves from all mover Africa who settled in Sierra Leone. There are also small numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and Europeans. Christianity and Islam are the major religions, but there are also animists. The official language is English as a result of British colonization, but krio is widely spoken.

Geography

Sierra Leone is a small West African nation bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. It is llocated just beyond the bite of Africa where the coastline receeds tothe east. Sierra Leone is surrounded by Guinea in the north and northeast and Liberia in the south. Thre are four distinct ecological areas, three belt-like formation and eastern mountauns. The coastal terraine is swampy with mangroves facing the ocean. The swampy belt gives way to wooded hills, and finally grassland plateaus in the interior. There are mountains in the east. Mount Bintumani reaches 6,390 feet (1,948 m). Sierra Leone is well watered with several rivers generally running southeast from the interior highland plateau to the coast. The country has a tropical climate because it is located just north of the equator.

History

The Bulom people are believed to have been the first inhabitants of what is now Sierra Leone. have nothing to do with the previopus history. More recently the Mende and Temne peoples have diominated the area (15th century). Subsequently the Fulani people moved into the area. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the area and named it area after the mountains and lions they observed (1460). The area became an important source of captives feeding the Atlantic slave trade (17th-18th centuries). The British established Freetown as a refuge for freed slaves (1787). The British created a crown colony (1808). It became an important base for the Royal Navy in the campaign against the slave trade. The slaves on many intercepted slavers were relesed in Sierra Leone. The colony became a protectorate (1896). Elections were first held (1957). Britain granted independence within the Commonwealth (1961). The country has since suffered from military coups and civil war.

Economy

Major economic activities include agriculture (rice, coffee, and palm oil) and mining (iron ore and diamonds). As a result of the mineral resources, the Sierra Leone economy has relied heavily on mining. Diamonds have been particularly important. Sierra Leopone is one of many countries in which condiitions actually deteriorated after independence. Mining activity declined (1970s and early-80s) and as a resukt economic growth rate slowed. Increasing Government corruption also disrupted the economy. Economic activity declined (1990s) and the country's infrastructure was significantly degraded. The money economy was largely destroyed in the civil war. With the end of hostilities (January 2002), the economy has begun to recover. The recovery has been aided by forign assistance. A major development project was the Bumbuna Dam. Japan helped to finance a hydroelectric project. A 10-megawatt thermal power generating machine began to provided needed power (2009).

Ethnicity

The population consists of some 20 African ethnic groups. The Temne dominate the north and the Mende are the major southern tribe. Only about 2 percent of the population is Krio, descendants of freed slaves from all mover Africa who settled in Sierra Leone. There are also small numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and Europeans.

Education

Religion

Christianity and Islam are the major religions, but there are also animists.

Languafe

The official language is English as a result of British colonization, but krio is widely spoken.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main African country page]
[Return to the Main African page]
[Algeria] [Angola] [Ivory Coast] [Kenyan] [Liberia]
[Madagascar] [Mali] [Sierra Leone ] [South Africa] [Uganda]

Created: 10:41 PM 9/30/2011
Last updated: 11:56 PM 2/15/2014