Learn more about
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world. Torn apart by a brutal civil war that ended
in 2002 and left tens of thousands dead or mutilated by rebel forces, the country is slowly rebuilding
itself. Malaria is widespread across Sierra Leone and causes almost a third of all child deaths.
And yet this cruel disease is entirely preventable. With your support, malaria control agents in the
Kenema Town area will be trained and equipped to provide families with advice about how to use
mosquito nets, spot symptoms of malaria and access life-saving treatment.
GUINEA
Kabala
Lorna
Mansa
Kambia
Sierra Leone is on the
coast of west Africa
Makeni
Lungi
Pepel
Lunsar
Koidu
FREETOWN
BANANA
ISLANDS
TURTLE
ISLANDS
Kailahun
Bo
Shenge
Sherbro
Island
Kenema
Momaligi
Kenema Town
Bonthe
North Atlantic
Ocean
LIBERIA
Sulima
Population:
5.7 million – roughly the same as Scotland.
Area:
71,740 sq km (27,699 sq miles) – roughly the same as Scotland.
Major languages:
English; Krio (Creole language derived from English, spoken by 97% of the
population as one of their languages); various African languages.
Major religions:
Islam (60%), Christianity (10%), indigenous beliefs (30%).
Life expectancy:
Men: 46 years; women: 49 years (source: UN).
Main exports:
Diamonds, rutile (titanium ore), cocoa, coffee, fish.
Capital city:
Freetown (population 875,000).
Average income per person:
US$340 (source: World Bank, 2010).
Climate:
Tropical, with landscape ranging from rainforests to savannah.
Culture:
Music, storytelling and a national dance troupe that tours internationally.
Overview
The staple food (eaten for virtually every meal) is rice,
often accompanied by fish. One of the country’s ethnic
groups, the Mende people, have over 20 different
words to describe rice, including separate names for
‘sweet rice’, ‘pounded rice’ and ‘the rice that sticks to
the bottom of a pot upon cooking’. A Sierra Leonean
will often say, without any exaggeration, ‘If I haven’t
eaten rice today, then I haven’t eaten!’
Sierra Leoneans are extremely polite and conscious
of good manners. Despite the poverty of the country,
much attention is given, especially in urban areas, to
neatness of dress and style of presentation. Greetings
are courteous and eloquent, with elders particularly
respected. The ‘good’ host is seen as someone
who will call any passerby to join in a meal with a
wholehearted, ‘Come, let’s eat’. As a guest, it is polite
to leave some food on the plate, thanking the host
profusely for his or her generosity.
During the 16th century, a group of peoples invaded
from the north-east, eventually settling in the area
and affecting the existing population in many ways,
including by bringing new techniques of warfare. In the
17th century, Portuguese imperialism faded, leaving the
British as the largest European influence on the country.
Annabel Symington via flickr.com
Culture
History
Inhabited for over 2,500 years, Sierra Leone was
isolated from much of the rest of Africa by its thick
tropical rainforests. The first Europeans to arrive were
Portuguese explorers, who landed in the 15th century
at what is now Freetown, one of the few natural
harbours along the coast of west Africa. They named
the oddly-shaped mountains there the ‘Lion Mountains’
and that name, ‘Serra Lyoa’, eventually became the
name of this west African nation.
During the 16th century, the Europeans – Portuguese,
Dutch, French and English – began kidnapping people
to take them away as slaves. Later, they found local
people to assist them in this shameful trade. Export
slavery remained a major business in Sierra Leone
from the 16th century to the mid-19th century. It was
estimated in 1789 that 74,000 slaves were being taken
annually from west Africa.
Freetown as seen from the hills behind the town,
looking out towards the Atlantic Ocean
crankyshooter1 via flickr.com
The colours on the flag of Sierra Leone are said to represent
either the green mountains and the blue and white sea, or
agriculture (green), peace (blue for the natural harbour in
Freetown), and unity and justice (white).
mifl68 via flickr.com
River No.2 village beach, an hour from Freetown and
one of Sierra Leone’s most famous beaches. With a long
dramatic coastline and tropical wildlife, including hippos
and chimpanzees, Sierra Leone has the potential for
earning money through tourism
Many of the roads around Kenema are difficult to navigate
After the slave trade was banned in Britain in 1807,
Freetown in Sierra Leone became a settlement
where freed slaves could go or be taken. Anglican and
Methodist missionaries provided a rudimentary English
education for the former slaves. The freed slaves had
originally been kidnapped from many different parts of
Africa, and while some returned to their original homes,
many stayed in Freetown and became the ‘Krio’ or
‘Creole’ people, speaking a new ‘krio’ language derived
from English.
There were strikes and uprisings through the early part
of the 20th century but finally, in 1951, a constitution
was put in place to pave the way to independence,
which was achieved in April 1961.
Conflicts and military coups over the following 30
years culminated in a brutal civil war in 1991. At
least 50,000 people were killed and up to 2 million
fled to neighbouring countries. The rebel group, the
Revolutionary United Front (RUF), was notorious for
kidnapping children to be brainwashed into becoming
child soldiers (an estimated 10,000 were captured),
and also for spreading terror by mutilating civilians. The
United Nations estimates that 20,000 people suffered
from these barbaric amputations.
Christian Aid
In 1800, the British-controlled part of Sierra Leone did
not extend far from Freetown, but British influence
gradually increased through trade and military means.
Conflict with other colonial powers, particularly in the
late 19th century, led to the division of Africa along
geographic lines (such as rivers and mountains). During
the 1890s, frontiers were agreed with French Guinea
to the east and with independent Liberia to the south.
In 1896 Britain declared a protectorate over the entire
region within these frontiers.
Your support will train and equip a malaria control agent
in Sierra Leone for one year
Following the signing of a peace treaty of 2002, a
war crimes tribunal and a Truth and Reconciliation
Commission were both established, and the people of
Sierra Leone are now slowly rebuilding their shattered
country. However, the atrocities that were committed
were so terrible that this will take many years.
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of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid June 2012 13-502-J540