Sherbro people

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The Sherbro
Total population
236,000 (4% of Sierra Leone's population) 55,874 (40% of Bonthe District population)
Regions with significant populations
Southern Province(Particularly in Bonthe District), Western Area
Languages
Sherbro
Religions
Christianity

The Sherbro people are a native people of Sierra Leone, who speak the Sherbro language. They are also known as the Bullom people. The Sherbro are primarily found in Bonthe District where they make up 40% of the population and in the capital city of Freetown.

Since the Sherbro people are native people of Sierra Leone, their history dates back to pre-colonial times. In the 1920s the Sherbro people were still being ruled by chiefs and were still under their own rule. There are few ethnic Sherbros today in Sierra Leone.

The Sherbro people, like many other Sierra Leonean ethnic groups, (such as the Sierra Leone Krio people) have a rich culture. The Sherbro people are primarily Christian.

1 History
2 Notable Sherbros
3 Afro-European clans
4 See also
5 Resources

[edit] History

The Sherbro were one of many ethnic groups living in Sierra Leone before the colonial era. The first interaction with Europeans came during the 1400s, when Portuguese explorers, settlers, and traders came to Sierra Leone. The two peoples eventually intermarried forming Afro-Portuguese clans that began to trade and be middlemen with both European and African people. These Afro-Portuguese clans became very influential however this was not the last Sherbro interaction with Europeans in such a way. The English followed soon after and in the 1620s they had a number of agents trading and purchasing items in the Sherbro Country. It was now that the most powerful Afro-European bonds were established; the English traders began marrying Sherbo princess and soon many multiracial Afro-English children became middlemen between African and English people for trade. These families included the Tuckers, Hubbards, Caulkers (Corkers), Rogerses, and Clevelands, and all had a white progenitor who married a daughter of one of the Sherbro ruling chiefdoms. Soon these multiracial clans began expanding and establishing more powerful chiefdoms and began to trade successfully as well. It was during the 18th century however that the slave trade began to dominate the Afro-English clans trading markets. During this time the Tuckers and Caulkers became the leading slave traders in the region and they grew extremely powerful and notorious slave traders. The Hubbards, Tuckers and Caulkers hired Mende people during their trading exploits for the slave trade and even hired white people to work for them. During this time the 'mulattoes' became even more powerful than the white slave traders, as they spoke both African and English languages, and sometimes mixed the two...a precursor to the Krio language of the Sierra Leone Krio people. The end of the Afro-European dominance in Sherbro society did not diminish with colonial rule by the British, though the chiefdoms were now subject to British rule and had to answer to the Britain accordingly. In 1820 the Caulkers who ruled in Banana Island were forced out and their kingdom was moved to Bumpey by the British.

[edit] Notable Sherbros

Kpana Lewis, Sherbro chief and an opponent of colonial rule
John Karefa-Smart, Sierra Leonean politician and the former leader of the United National People's Party (UNPP)
Patricia Kabbah, late First Lady of Sierra Leone and late wife of former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
John Akar, Sierra Leonean entertainer; he composed the music of the Sierra Leone's National Anthem
Paul Kpaka, football star
Kpana Lewis (1830-1912), Sherbro Chief and opponent of colonial rule
B. J. Tucker, an American football cornerback who plays for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL.
Seniora Doll, Sherbro princess during the early years of Sierra Leone
Peter L. Tucker: Chief Executive for the Commission for Racial Equality (UK)
Desmond Luke, former Sierra Leone ambassador to France, and Germany
Joseph Christian Humper, a Bishop in the United Methodist Church
Thomas Caulker-King of Bumpey
James Corker-Son of William Cleveland and an African princess, was a member of Corker (Caulker family)
Charles Hubbard (Marthyn Shenge)- First Sierra Leonean Tennis player to beat a European player (1970's). He was the Men's Singles national champion for three consecutive years and retired undefeated. He was also the first indigenous tennis coach in Sierra Leone.