Sherbro people

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The Sherbro
Total population

191,000[1]

Famous Sierra Leoneans from the Sherbro ethnic group include:
Kpana Lewis, John Karefa-Smart, Paul Kpaka, Seniora Doll, Joseph Christian Humper, John Akar, B. J. Tucker, Peter L. Tucker,
Regions with significant populations
Bonthe District and the Western Area
Languages
Sherbro
Religion
Christianity (99.9%)

The Sherbro people are a native people of Sierra Leone, who speak the Sherbro language; they make up 3% of Sierra Leone's population or about 201,000. They are also known as the Bullom people. The Sherbros are primarily found in their homeland in Bonthe District, where they make up 45% of the population, in coastal areas of Moyamba District, and in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, particularly in Freetown. During pre-colonial days, the Sherbro were one of the most dominant ethnic group in Sierra Leone, but today only few ethnic Sherbro are found in Sierra Leone. About 99% of the Sherbro people are Christian.

The Sherbro are primarily fisherman and traders. They have a rich culture, that has integrated some western culture and ideals. Their culture is unlike that of all other ethnic groups in Sierra Leone. The only Sierra Leonean ethnic group whose culture is similar (in terms of embrace of Western culture) are the Krio people, descended largely from African Americans who were freed by the British and came from Nova Scotia after the American Revolutionary War. The Sherbro and the Krios are close allies; they have intermarried from as far back as the 1790s.

As native to Sierra Leone, the Sherbro history dates to pre-colonial times. In the 18th century, the Sherbro began to get involved in the slave trade and became more powerful than the European slave traders. They began to employ the Mende people to work for them to find slaves to meet the growing demand. In the 1920s, the Sherbro people were still being ruled by their own chiefs.

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 15th century, when Portuguese explorers, settlers, and traders came to Sierra Leone.

The English followed soon after and in the 1620s, they had a number of agents trading and purchasing items in the Sherbro Country. The Sherbro intermarried with them. Like the Krios, the Sherbro have a more westernized culture than that of other Sierra Leone ethnic groups.[citation needed] The Krios generally intermarried with their allies the Sherbros from as far back as the 18th century.

Relationship with the Krios

De-tribalised Sherbro easily assimilate as Krio, given that they share the Christian faith and Western names.

Notable Sherbro

  • Thomas Corker - (died 1700) British born Irish man and progenitor of the Sherbro Caulker clan
  • Kpana Lewis (1830–1912), Sherbro Chief and opponent of colonial rule
  • Barnabas Root (born Fahma Yahny) (died 1877) Clergyman and missionary to his nation
  • John Karefa-Smart, Sierra Leonean politician and the former leader of the United National People's Party (UNPP)
  • John Akar, Sierra Leonean entertainer; who composed the music of the Sierra Leone's national anthem
  • Henry M. Joko-Smart, former Supreme Court Justice of Sierra Leone
  • Desmond Luke, former Sierra Leone Foreign Minister and Chief Justice*Patricia Kabbah, late First Lady of Sierra Leone and late wife of former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
  • Paul Kpaka, football star, Sierra Leone
  • Christian Caulker, football star, Sierra Leone
  • Michael Tommy, football star, Sierra Leone
  • Kaine P. Thomas, member of Parliament from Bonthe District (PMDC)
  • Bassie Agnesie, member of Parliament from Bonthe District (PMDC)
  • Margaret Thompson Seibureh, deceased Paramount Chief of Bum Chiefdom
  • B. J. Tucker, an American football cornerback with 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)
  • Joseph Christian Humper, a bishop in the United Methodist Church
  • Thomas Caulker, King of Bumpey
  • Charles Hubbard (Marthyn Shenge), the first Sierra Leonean tennis player to beat a European player (1970s). 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.
  • James Sheridan (Aka Sherbro), 1st Team, All-State Chicago Catholic basketball player, St. Rita High School
  • Charlie James Hughes, Chairman Monuments and Relics Commission, Sierra Leone 2008-2011
  • Patrick Tommy Caulker, Current Chief Executive Officer, Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency

Afro-European clans

See also

  • Thomas Corker, Chief Royal African agent in Sherbro country
  • Seniora Doll, married Thomas Corker; their descendants are the Shenge and Bonthe Caulkers

Notes

  1. ↑ Sherbro, Southern Bullom of Sierra Leone

References

  • Adam Jones (1983). History in Africa, Vol. 10, pp. 151–162.
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