Although Sierra Leone is poor today, this has not always been true. During 1860—1900 Sierra Leone was a major commercial and educational center, often referred to as “the Athens of West Africa”. Freetown was the most important trading center in West Africa. The proportion of children in school during this period was higher in Freetown than in Britain. Several notable scholars worked at Fourah Bay, the only University in West Africa.
A long period of domination by Britain began in about 1900 and was followed by protracted civil conflicts culminating in the terrible “blood diamond wars” of 1992-2002. The country, however, has been at peace since 2002 and the economy is growing again. Sierra Leone has rich natural features including good soils, abundant rainfall, and spectacular beaches to attract tourists. It is truly a country with great promise. Thus, while it still ranks near the bottom in indicators of poverty, there is every reason to hope that this once proud and productive country will soon regain its former status as one of the most productive and successful countries in the region.
This page describes the country and its history. The historical account comes largely from the Area Handbook for Sierra Leone by Irving Kaplan.
Wikipedia also has a brief account of Sierra Leone’s history.
Location: Western Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean, just north of the Equator (latitude 7-10 degrees N). Slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April). Coast is one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east. Elevation varies from sea level to 1948 m near the eastern border.
Population: 6 million, nearly half less than 14; population growing at 2.3%/year. Life expectancy at birth: 40 years.
Religions: Muslim (60%), indigenous religions (30%), Christian (10%).
Languages: English is the official language, and the language taught in school; Krio, a mixture of English and several African languages, is spoken by nearly everyone.
Currency: leone; the exchange rate is ~3000 leones for 1 US dollar.
Sierra Leone has probably been inhabited by people for at least 2000 years. By A.D. 800 iron, and probably iron smelting, were in use in the country. Several waves of people from surrounding areas, particularly the Fouta Djallon plateau north of Sierra Leone in what is now Guinea, came to Sierra Leone between 1000 and 1600.
European contact with Sierra Leone began in 1462 with mapping of the Freetown area. There was little contact with the area for the next two hundred years but by 1700 Freetown had become a major slave trading base. During the late 1700s several efforts were made by Britain to settle freed slaves in Freetown. They came from all over Africa, and most chose to remain in Sierra Leone. It was during this period that Krio language developed. By the end of the 1700s, a flourishing trade, based in Freetown, had developed along the west African coast.
During 1800 - 1961, Freetown served as the residence of the British governor, who ruled Ghana and the Gambia settlements as well as Sierra Leone. During 1860—1900 Sierra Leone was a major commercial and educational center, often referred to as “the Athens of West Africa”. Freetown was the most important trading center in West Africa. The proportion of children in school during this period was higher in Freetown than in Britain. The only University in West Africa, Fourah Bay, was located near Freetown. Several noted Sierra Leonean scholars were active including Bishop Crowther, J.C. Taylor, and P.J. Williams (ethnology); Samuel Johnson, and A.B.C. Sibthorpe Horton (history); and James Africanus Horton, J.F. Easmon, and Oguntola Sapara (tropical medicine). In 1900, Britain adopted a policy of preventing Creoles from holding important offices and the culture gradually declined. The movement towards independence was long, slow, and difficult. A constitution providing a framework for decolonization was completed in 1951, however, and led the way to independence in April, 1961.
The subsequent 30 years were marked by slow progress towards democratization. Elections were held approximately every 5 years starting in 1962. A new constitution was adopted in 1971. In the 1980s, a one-party system of government was implemented briefly but then rejected. Dissatisfaction with government grew, however, and by the early 1990s serious civil wars had broken out in the eastern part of the country over control of the diamond mines there.
The 1990s were marked by extensive wars over the diamond mines and by repeated, and at times briefly successful, attempts to overthrow the government in Freetown by force. These wars caused extensive destruction of the country’s transportation, communication, and education systems. Some of the most horrific incidents in modern times, anywhere in the world, occurred with extensive mutilation including amputation. It is estimated that 50,000 Sierra Leoneans were killed and millions were displaced to refugee camps outside the country.
Peace was finally re-established by the United Nations in 2002. Soon thereafter, elections were held, a Special Court indicted many of the war criminals, and the country began a slow recovery. Graft and corruption was still common and progress was slow, but peace was maintained. During the past few years, the economy has grown rapidly, schools and roads have been re-built, and tourists have begun to return. Sierra Leone is now regarded as a country on the verge of rapid and sustained growth, perhaps even re-establishing itself as one of the centers of learning and prosperity in West Africa.
Despite good prospects for continued peace and future growth, Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries on earth. Nearly 75% of the people live on less than $2/day, the accepted definition of poverty. Nearly half the population lacks access to clean water and more than half lack access to sanitary facilities. Bednets are virtually absent despite malaria being a serious risk especially for children. Fewer than half the births are attended by a physician. Only half the men, and one quarter of the women, are literate. Half the population suffers from malnourishment. The under-five mortality rate is the highest in the world. Nearly 3 of every 10 babies die before their fifth year. Thus, even though there are real grounds for hope that Sierra Leone will finally find prosperity during the coming few decades, the needs by people right now are enormous.
