An Introduction to the Precolonial History of the Mende of Sierra Leone

An Introduction to the Precolonial History of the Mende of Sierra Leone PDF

Author: Arthur Abraham

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13:

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This study of the Mende, the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone, uncovers Mende origins, ending at the beginning of the colonial period. Drawing from documentary, oral, anthropological, linguistic and other evidence, the work argues that Mende originated as a lingua franca sometime in the late 16th century and spread fairly quickly. State formation began in the 17th century, gathering momentum in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Three case studies form the focus of the rest of the book.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone PDF

Author: David John Harris

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 0199361762

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Sierra Leone came to world attention in the 1990s when a catastrophic civil war linked to the diamond trade was reported globally. This fleeting and particular interest, however, obscured two crucial processes in this small West African state. On the one hand, while the civil war was momentous, brutal and affected all Sierra Leoneans, it was also just one element in the long and faltering attempt to build a nation and state given the country's immensely problematic pre-colonial and British colonial legacies. On the other, the aftermath of the war precipitated a huge international effort to construct a 'liberal peace', with mixed results, and thus made Sierra Leone a laboratory for post-Cold War interventions. Sierra Leone examines 225 years of its history and fifty years of independence, placing state- society relations at the centre of an original and revealing investigation of those who have tried to rule or change Sierra Leone and its inhabitants and the responses engendered. It interweaves the historical narrative with sketches of politicians, anecdotes, the landscape and environment and key turning-points, alongside theoretical and other comparisons with the rest of Africa. It is a new contribution to the debate for those who already know Sierra Leone and a solid point of entry for those who wish to know.

The Temne of Sierra Leone

The Temne of Sierra Leone PDF

Author: Joseph J. Bangura

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2017-11-09

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 110818734X

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Much of the research and study of the formation of Sierra Leone focuses almost exclusively on the role of the so-called Creoles, or descendants of ex-slaves from Europe, North America, Jamaica, and Africa living in the colony. In this book, Joseph J. Bangura cuts through this typical narrative surrounding the making of the British colony, and instead offers a fresh look at the role of the often overlooked indigenous Temne-speakers. Bangura explores, however, the socio-economic formation, establishment, and evolution of Freetown, from the perspective of different Temne-speaking groups, including market women, religious figures, and community leaders and the complex relationships developed in the process. Examining key issues, such as the politics of belonging, African agency, and the creation of national identities, Bangura offers an account of Sierra Leone that sheds new perspectives on the social history of the colony.

Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone

Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone PDF

Author: Magbaily C. Fyle

Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Published: 2006-03-27

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 0810865041

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Sierra Leone was founded, albeit under British control, with the highest hopes of being a refuge for liberated Africans and freed slaves. When the country received its independence, hopes for the future grew even stronger. Alas, its expectations came crashing down when the country's situation grew steadily worse after repeated military interventions and a devastating ten-year civil war that raged throughout the 1990s. Now that the war is over, there is once again renewed cause for optimism about the country's future, as Sierra Leone becomes an active participant in African and world affairs. This new edition is based primarily on recent research on the country, but covers the earliest known inhabitants, the colonial era, and the period of independence including the very confusing turmoil of the recent past. The chronology briefly traces its history and the introduction provides an essential overview of all the recent developments in the country. Hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries describe significant leaders, events, political parties and movements, ethnic groups, and related political, economic, and social aspects. A bibliography is included to facilitate further research.

Ethnicity and the Colonial State

Ethnicity and the Colonial State PDF

Author: Alexander Keese

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2015-11-30

Total Pages: 387

ISBN-13: 9004307354

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Ethnicity and the Colonial State compares the choices of community leaders in three different West African groups (Wolof, Temne, and Ewe), with regard to “selling” their identifications to the colonial rulers. The book thereby addresses ethnicity as a factor in global history.

Introduction to Sierra Leone

Introduction to Sierra Leone PDF

Author: Gilad James, PhD

Publisher: Gilad James Mystery School

Published:

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 1671317998

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Sierra Leone is a country located in West Africa, bordered to the north and northeast by Guinea, to the southeast by Liberia, and to the west and southwest by the Atlantic Ocean. The country has a tropical climate characterized by two seasons: the dry season from November to April, and the wet season from May to October. The official language is English, although Krio, a Creole language, is widely spoken. Sierra Leone has a diverse population made up of Temne, Mende, Limba, and Krio peoples, among others. Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain in 1961 and experienced a period of political instability and civil war, which lasted from 1991 to 2002. The civil war was fought between government forces and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group that aimed to overthrow the government. The conflict was characterized by violent attacks on civilians, including chopping off limbs, sexual violence, and the use of child soldiers. Since the end of the war, Sierra Leone has made progress in democratization and economic development, although it still faces challenges such as poverty, corruption, and high youth unemployment rates.

UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. I, Abridged Edition

UNESCO General History of Africa, Vol. I, Abridged Edition PDF

Author: Jacqueline Ki-Zerbo

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 372

ISBN-13: 9780520066960

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"This volume covers the period from the end of the Neolithic era to the beginning of the seventh century of our era. This lengthy period includes the civilization of Ancient Egypt, the history of Nubia, Ethiopia, North Africa and the Sahara, as well as of the other regions of the continent and its islands."--Publisher's description

Africa's Development in Historical Perspective

Africa's Development in Historical Perspective PDF

Author: Emmanuel Akyeampong

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2014-08-11

Total Pages: 541

ISBN-13: 1107041155

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Why has Africa remained persistently poor over its recorded history? Has Africa always been poor? What has been the nature of Africa's poverty and how do we explain its origins? This volume takes a necessary interdisciplinary approach to these questions by bringing together perspectives from archaeology, linguistics, history, anthropology, political science, and economics. Several contributors note that Africa's development was at par with many areas of Europe in the first millennium of the Common Era. Why Africa fell behind is a key theme in this volume, with insights that should inform Africa's developmental strategies.