--- title: Sierra Leone — English Wikipedia · full text with trees description: Wikipedia's «Sierra Leone», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of West Africa. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Sierra Leone # Sierra Leone From Wikipedia, [«Sierra Leone»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. The English Wikipedia article «Sierra Leone», whole: 57 sections, 728 sentences and 15124 words, its 258 notes at the end. The marks in brackets «[n]» are Wikipedia's own, each leading to its note and source; the small number after every sentence leads to the sentence's own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/7/) | Facts | | | --- | --- | | | **Republic of Sierra Leone** | | | **Motto:** "Unity, Freedom, Justice" | | | **Anthem:** "[High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_We_Exalt_Thee,_Realm_of_the_Free)" | | Capital and largest city | [Freetown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown) [corpus](../Freetown/ "in our corpus"); 08°30′00″N 12°06′00″W | | Official languages | [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language)[\[1\]](page/7/#ref-1 "note 1") | | Recognised national languages | [Krio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krio_language) | | [Ethnic groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_group) (2015[\[2\]](page/7/#ref-2 "note 2")) | 31.9% [Mende](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mende_people); 31.4% [Temne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temne_people); 6.4% [Limba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limba_people_%28Sierra_Leone%29); 4.4% [Kono](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kono_people); 3.4% [Fula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fula_people_of_Sierra_Leone); 2.9% [Susu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susu_people); 2.9% [Loko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loko_people); 2.8% [Koranko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koranko_people); 2.6% [Sherbro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbro_people); 2.4% [Mandingo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandingo_people_of_Sierra_Leone); 1.3% [Krio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Creole_people); One caution: you may see different figures online, such as Temne being listed as 35% or more. Those often come from later demographic estimates rather than the official 2015 census. The 2015 Statistics Sierra Leone census remains the clearest official source for a detailed tribe-by-tribe breakdown, while the 2021 Mid-Term Census did not publish the same detailed ethnicity table prominently in its preliminary results. | | Religion (2020)[\[3\]](page/7/#ref-3 "note 3") | 78% [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Sierra_Leone); 21% [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Sierra_Leone); 1% other | | [Demonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym) | Sierra Leonean | | Government | Unitary [presidential republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system) | | • [President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Sierra_Leone) | [Julius Maada Bio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Maada_Bio) | | • [Vice-President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice-President_of_Sierra_Leone) | [Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Juldeh_Jalloh) | | • [Chief Minister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_government_of_Sierra_Leone) | [David Moinina Sengeh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Moinina_Sengeh) | | • [Speaker of Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Parliament_of_Sierra_Leone) | [Segepoh Solomon Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segepoh_Solomon_Thomas) | | • [Chief Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Justice) | Komba Kamanda | | Legislature | [Parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Sierra_Leone) | | **[Independence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence) from the [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) [corpus](../United_Kingdom/ "in our corpus")** | | | • [Dominion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_%281961–1971%29) | 27 April 1961 | | • [Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic) | 19 April 1971 | | **Area** | | | • Total | 73,252 km² (45,524 sq mi) ([117th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area)) | | • Water (%) | 1.1 | | **Population** | | | • 2023 estimate | 8,460,512[\[4\]](page/7/#ref-4 "note 4") ([100th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population)) | | • Density | 124/km² (321/sq mi) ([114th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density)) | | [GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) ([PPP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity)) | 2025 estimate | | • Total | $32.510 billion[\[5\]](page/7/#ref-5 "note 5") ([150th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29)) | | • Per capita | $3,550[\[5\]](page/7/#ref-5 "note 5") ([165th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita)) | | [GDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product) (nominal) | 2025 estimate | | • Total | $8.390 billion[\[5\]](page/7/#ref-5 "note 5") ([154th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29)) | | • Per capita | $915[\[5\]](page/7/#ref-5 "note 5") ([176th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29_per_capita)) | | [Gini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient) (2024) | 33.7[\[6\]](page/7/#ref-6 "note 6"); medium inequality | | [HDI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index) (2023) | 0.467[\[7\]](page/7/#ref-7 "note 7"); low ([185th](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index)) | | Currency | [Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leonean_leone) ([SLE](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217)) | | Time zone | [UTC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time)±00:00 ([GMT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Mean_Time)) | | Calling code | [+232](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/+232) | | [Internet TLD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_code_top-level_domain) | [.sl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.sl) | | | Rank based on 2007 figure | Sierra Leone,[\[10\]](page/7/#ref-10 "note 10") officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of [West Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa).[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") It is bordered to the southeast by [Liberia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia) [corpus](../Liberia/ "in our corpus") and by [Guinea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea) [corpus](../Guinea/ "in our corpus") to the north.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone's land area is 73,252 km2.[\[11\]](page/7/#ref-11 "note 11")[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") It has a [tropical climate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_climate) and environments ranging from [savannahs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna) to [rainforests](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainforest).[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") As of the 2023 census, Sierra Leone had a population of 8,460,512.[\[2\]](page/7/#ref-2 "note 2")[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") [Freetown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown) [corpus](../Freetown/ "in our corpus") is its capital and largest city.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone is a [presidential republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_republic), with a [unicameral parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicameral_parliament) and a [directly elected](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directly_elected) president.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a [secular state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_state).[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Its [constitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Sierra_Leone) provides for the [separation of state and religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_state_and_religion) and [freedom of conscience](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_conscience).[\[12\]](page/7/#ref-12 "note 12")[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") [Muslims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims) constitute three-quarters of the population, and there is a significant [Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian) minority.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Religious tolerance is very high.[\[13\]](page/7/#ref-13 "note 13")[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone's current territorial configuration was established in two phases: in 1808, the coastal [Sierra Leone Colony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Colony_and_Protectorate) was founded as part of the [British Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire), to be a place to resettle returning Africans after the [abolition of the slave trade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolition_of_the_slave_trade); then in 1896, the inland Protectorate was created as a result of the [Berlin Conference of 1884–1885](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Conference_of_1884–1885).[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") This led to the formal recognition of the territory as the [Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Colony_and_Protectorate).[\[14\]](page/7/#ref-14 "note 14")[\[15\]](page/7/#ref-15 "note 15")[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone attained independence from the [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom) [corpus](../United_Kingdom/ "in our corpus") in 1961 under the leadership of Prime Minister [Sir Milton Margai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Milton_Margai) of the [Sierra Leone People's Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_People%27s_Party) (SLPP).[\[16\]](page/7/#ref-16 "note 16")[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1971, under Prime Minister [Siaka Stevens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siaka_Stevens) of the [All People's Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_People%27s_Congress) (APC), the country adopted a new constitution, transforming Sierra Leone into a presidential republic, with Stevens as the inaugural president.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1978, Stevens declared the APC to be the [sole legally recognised party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_party_system).[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1985, he was succeeded by [Joseph Saidu Momoh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Saidu_Momoh).[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Momoh's enactment of a new constitution in 1991 reintroduced a [multi-party system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-party_system).[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") That same year, a protracted [civil war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Civil_War) broke out between the government and the [Revolutionary United Front](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_United_Front) (RUF) rebel group.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The conflict, characterised by multiple [coups d'état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27état), persisted for 11 years.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Intervention by [ECOMOG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECOMOG) forces and later by the United Kingdom resulted in the defeat of the RUF in 2002, ushering in a period of relative stability.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone is a culturally diverse country, home to approximately [18 ethnic groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_Sierra_Leone), with the [Temne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temne_people) and [Mende peoples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mende_people) being predominant.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") The [Creole people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krio_people), descendants of freed African-American, Afro-Caribbean slaves and liberated Africans, constitute about 1.2% of the population.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") English is the official language, while [Krio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krio_language) is the [lingua franca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_franca), spoken by 97% of the population.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The country is rich with natural resources, notably diamonds, gold, [bauxite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite) and aluminium.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") As of the most recent survey in 2019, 59.2% of the population is affected by [multidimensional poverty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidimensional_Poverty_Index) and an additional 21.3% vulnerable to it.[\[17\]](page/7/#ref-17 "note 17")[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Sierra Leone maintains membership in several international organisations, including the United Nations, African Union, [Economic Community of West African States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Community_of_West_African_States) (ECOWAS), and the [Commonwealth of Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations), among others.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Etymology Sierra Leone derives its name from the [Lion Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Mountains) near its capital, Freetown.[\[18\]](page/7/#ref-18 "note 18")[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Originally named Serra Leoa ([Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language) for 'lioness mountains') by Portuguese explorer [Pedro de Sintra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_de_Sintra) in 1462, the modern name is based on the [Venetian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_language) spelling, which was introduced by [Venetian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice) explorer [Alvise Cadamosto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvise_Cadamosto) and subsequently adopted by other European [mapmakers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartography).[\[19\]](page/7/#ref-19 "note 19")[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") ## History Main article: [History of Sierra Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sierra_Leone) ### Early history Sierra Leone's history is marked by continuous human habitation for at least 2,500 years,[\[20\]](page/7/#ref-20 "note 20") influenced by migrations from across Africa.[\[21\]](page/7/#ref-21 "note 21")[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Iron technology had been adopted by the 9th century and agriculture established by 1000 AD along the coast.[\[22\]](page/7/#ref-22 "note 22")[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Climate shifts over centuries altered the ecological zones, influencing migration and conquest dynamics.[\[23\]](page/7/#ref-23 "note 23")[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The region's dense [tropical rainforest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforest) and swamps, coupled with the presence of the [tsetse fly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsetse_fly) which carried a disease fatal to horses and the [zebu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebu) cattle used by the [Mandé people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mande_people), provided natural defences against invasions by the [Mandinka Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandinka_Empire) and other African empires,[\[23\]](page/7/#ref-23 "note 23")[\[24\]](page/7/#ref-24 "note 24") and limited influence by the [Mali Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali_Empire).[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The introduction of [Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam) by [Susu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susu_people) traders, merchants and migrants in the 18th century further enriched the culture, eventually establishing a strong foothold in the north.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The conquest by [Samory Touré](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samory_Touré) in the northeast solidified Islam among the [Yalunka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalunka_people), [Kuranko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuranko) and [Limba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limba_people_%28Sierra_Leone%29) people.[\[25\]](page/7/#ref-25 "note 25")[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") ### European trading The 15th century marked the beginning of European interaction with Sierra Leone, highlighted by Portuguese explorer [Pedro de Sintra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_de_Sintra) mapping the region in 1462 and naming it after the lioness mountains.[\[26\]](page/7/#ref-26 "note 26")[\[27\]](page/7/#ref-27 "note 27")[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") This naming has been subject to historical reinterpretation, suggesting earlier European knowledge of the region.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Following Sintra, European traders established fortified posts, engaging primarily in the [slave trade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery), which shaped the socio-economic landscape significantly.[\[28\]](page/7/#ref-28 "note 28")[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Traders from European countries such as the [Dutch Republic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic), [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_England) and [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_France), started to establish trading stations.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") These stations quickly began to primarily deal in slaves, who were brought to the coast by indigenous traders from interior areas.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") The Europeans made payments, called Cole, for rent, tribute, and trading rights, to the king of an area.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Local Afro-European merchants often acted as middlemen, the Europeans advancing them goods to trade to indigenous merchants, most often for slaves and ivory.[\[29\]](page/7/#ref-29 "note 29")[\[30\]](page/7/#ref-30 "note 30")[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Early Portuguese interactions Portuguese traders were particularly drawn to the local craftsmanship in [ivory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory), leading to a notable trade in ivory artefacts such as horns, [Sapi Saltceller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapi_Saltceller), and spoons.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The Sapi people belonged to a cluster of people who spoke [West Atlantic languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Atlantic_languages), living in the region of modern day Sierra Leone.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") There had already been a carving culture established in the area prior to Portuguese contact, and many travellers to Sierra Leone were initially impressed with the Sapis' carving skills, taking local ivory horns back to Europe.[\[31\]](page/7/#ref-31 "note 31")[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Black Poor of London Main article: [Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_for_the_Relief_of_the_Black_Poor) In the late 18th century, some African Americans who had fought for the [British Crown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Crown) during the [American Revolutionary War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War) were resettled in Sierra Leone, forming a community named [Black Loyalists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Loyalists).[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") This resettlement scheme was partly motivated by social issues in London, with the Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme offering a new beginning for the [Black Poor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Poor).[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Many had been slaves who had escaped to join the British, lured by promises of freedom ([emancipation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation)).[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Official documentation known as the [Book of Negroes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Negroes) lists thousands of freed slaves whom the British evacuated from the nascent United States and resettled in colonies elsewhere in [British North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_North_America).[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Pro-slavery advocates accused the Black Poor of being responsible for a large proportion of crime in 18th-century London.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") While the broader community included some women, the Black Poor seems to have exclusively consisted of men, some of whom developed relationships with local women and often married them.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") On the voyage between [Plymouth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth), England and Sierra Leone, 29 European girlfriends and wives accompanied the [Black Poor settlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_for_the_Relief_of_the_Black_Poor).[\[32\]](page/7/#ref-32 "note 32")[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Many in London thought moving them to Sierra Leone would lift them out of poverty.[\[33\]](page/7/#ref-33 "note 33")[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The Sierra Leone Resettlement Scheme was proposed by entomologist [Henry Smeathman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Smeathman) and drew interest from humanitarians like [Granville Sharp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Sharp), who saw it as a means of showing the pro-slavery lobby that black people could contribute towards the running of the new colony.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Government officials soon became involved in the scheme as well, although their interest was spurred by the possibility of resettling a large group of poor citizens elsewhere.[\[34\]](page/7/#ref-34 "note 34")[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") [William Pitt the Younger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_the_Younger), prime minister and leader of the Tory party, had an active interest in the scheme because he saw it as a means to repatriate the Black Poor to Africa.[\[35\]](page/7/#ref-35 "note 35")[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") In January 1787, the Atlantic and the Belisarius set sail for Sierra Leone, but bad weather forced them to divert to Plymouth, during which time about 50 passengers died.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Another 24 were discharged, and 23 ran away.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Eventually, 411 passengers sailed to Sierra Leone in April 1787.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") On the voyage between Plymouth and Sierra Leone, 96 passengers died.[\[35\]](page/7/#ref-35 "note 35")[\[36\]](page/7/#ref-36 "note 36")[\[37\]](page/7/#ref-37 "note 37")[\[38\]](page/7/#ref-38 "note 38")[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1787 the British Crown founded a settlement in Sierra Leone in what was called the "[Province of Freedom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Province_of_Freedom)".[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") About 400 black and 60 white colonists reached Sierra Leone on 15 May 1787.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") After they established [Granville Town](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granville_Town), most of the first group of colonists died, owing to disease and warfare with the indigenous African peoples ([Temne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temne_people)), who resisted their encroachment.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") When the ships left them in September, they had been reduced to "276 persons, namely 212 black men, 30 black women, 5 white men and 29 white women".[\[35\]](page/7/#ref-35 "note 35")[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The settlers that remained forcibly captured land from a local African chieftain, but he retaliated, attacking the settlement, which was reduced to a mere 64 settlers comprising 39 black men, 19 black women, and six white women.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Black settlers were captured by unscrupulous traders and sold as slaves, and the remaining colonists were forced to arm themselves for their own protection.[\[35\]](page/7/#ref-35 "note 35")[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The 64 remaining colonists established a second Granville Town.[\[39\]](page/7/#ref-39 "note 39")[\[40\]](page/7/#ref-40 "note 40")[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Nova Scotians Main article: [Nova Scotian Settlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotian_Settlers) Following the American Revolution, some Black Loyalists from [Nova Scotia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia), Canada, were relocated to Sierra Leone, founding Freetown and contributing significantly to the [Krio people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krio_people) and [Krio language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krio_language) that came to define the region.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Following the [American Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution), more than 3,000 Black Loyalists had also been settled in [Nova Scotia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia), but faced harsh winters and racial discrimination.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") [Thomas Peters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Peters_%28black_leader%29) pressed British authorities for relief and more aid; together with British abolitionist [John Clarkson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Clarkson_%28abolitionist%29), the [Sierra Leone Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Company) was established to relocate Black Loyalists who wanted to take their chances in West Africa.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1792 nearly 1,200 people from Nova Scotia crossed the Atlantic to build the second (and only permanent) Colony of Sierra Leone and the settlement of [Freetown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown) [corpus](../Freetown/ "in our corpus") on 11 March 1792.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") In Sierra Leone they were called the [Nova Scotian Settlers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotian_Settlers), the Nova Scotians, or the Settlers.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Clarkson initially banned the survivors of Granville Town from joining the new settlement, blaming them for the demise of Granville Town.[\[35\]](page/7/#ref-35 "note 35")[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The Settlers built Freetown in the styles they knew from their lives in the [American South](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_South); they also continued American fashion and American manners.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") In addition, many continued to practise [Methodism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism).[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 1790s, the Settlers, including adult women, voted for the first time in elections.[\[41\]](page/7/#ref-41 "note 41")[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1792, in a move that foreshadowed the women's suffrage movements in Britain, the heads of all households, of which a third were women, were given the right to vote.[\[42\]](page/7/#ref-42 "note 42")[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Black settlers in Sierra Leone enjoyed much more autonomy than their white equivalent in European countries.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Black migrants elected different levels of political representatives, 'tithingmen', who represented each dozen settlers and 'hundreders' who represented larger amounts.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") This sort of representation was not available in Nova Scotia.[\[43\]](page/7/#ref-43 "note 43")[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") The initial process of society-building in Freetown was a harsh struggle.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crown did not supply enough basic supplies and provisions and the Settlers were continually threatened by illegal slave trading and the risk of re-enslavement.[\[44\]](page/7/#ref-44 "note 44")[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Jamaican Maroons and Liberated Africans Main article: [Jamaican Maroons in Sierra Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Maroons_in_Sierra_Leone), [Sierra Leone Liberated Africans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Liberated_Africans) The Sierra Leone Company, controlled by London investors, refused to allow the settlers to take [freehold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee_simple) of the land.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1799 some of the settlers revolted.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") The Crown subdued the revolt by bringing in forces of more than 500 [Jamaican Maroons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Maroons), whom they transported from [Cudjoe's Town (Trelawny Town)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cudjoe%27s_Town_%28Trelawny_Town%29) via Nova Scotia in 1800.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Led by Colonel [Montague James](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montague_James), the Maroons helped the colonial forces to put down the revolt, and in the process the [Jamaican Maroons in Sierra Leone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Maroons_in_Sierra_Leone) secured the best houses and farms.[\[45\]](page/7/#ref-45 "note 45")[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") On 1 January 1808, [Thomas Ludlam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ludlam_%28colonial_administrator%29), the Governor of the Sierra Leone Company and a leading abolitionist, surrendered the company's charter.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") This ended its 16 years of running the colony.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") The British Crown reorganised the Sierra Leone Company as the [African Institution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Institution); it was directed to improve the local economy.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") Its members represented both British who hoped to inspire local entrepreneurs and those with interest in the Macauley & Babington Company, which held the (British) monopoly on Sierra Leone trade.[\[46\]](page/7/#ref-46 "note 46")[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/3/) [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/4/) [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/7/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Sierra_Leone/page/2/) - ↑ back to [English Wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/)