Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

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The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone are the third-level units of administration in Sierra Leone.

Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone.

History and organisation

The paramount chiefs and the ruling families in the chiefdoms were recognized and empowered by the British colonial administration when it organized the Protectorate of Sierra Leone in 1896.[1] Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas."[2]

The hereditary paramount chiefs and their sub-chiefs were the sole local government in Sierra Leone until 2004, when the World Bank sponsored the creation of elected local councils. Local notables, known as the Tribal Authority, elect paramount chiefs for life from among the ruling families in each chieftaincy recognized by the British administration in 1896.[2]

Some chieftaincies have several ruling families, and the differences among them in terms of economic progress has been subject to study in 2013.[2] They found there was a positive relationship between the number of ruling families in a chieftaincy and educational, health and economic outcomes in terms of human capital.[3]

The districts of Sierra Leone are divided into 149 chiefdoms of chieftaincies, as listed below as of 2011.[1]

Eastern Province

Kailahun District

  • Dea – Baiwala
  • Jaluahun – Segbwema
  • Jawei – Daru
  • Kissi Kama – Dea
  • Kissi Teng – Kangama
  • Kissi Tongi – Buedu
  • Luawa – Kailahun
  • Malema – Jojoima
  • Mandu – Mobai
  • Peje Bongre – Manowa
  • Peje West – Bunumbu
  • Penguia – Sandar
  • Upper Bambara – Pendembu
  • Yawei – Bandajuma

Kenema District

  • Dama – Giema
  • Dodo – Dodo
  • Gaura – Joru
  • Gorama Mende – Tungie
  • Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
  • Koya – Baoma
  • Langurama Ya – Baima
  • Lower Bambara – Panguma
  • Malegohun – Sembehun
  • Niawa – Sundumei
  • Nomo – Faama
  • Nongowa – Kenema
  • Simbaru – Boajibu
  • Small Bo – Blama
  • Tunkia – Gorahun
  • Wando – Faala

Kono District

  • Fiama – Njagbwema
  • Gbane Kandor – Koardu
  • Gbane – Ngandorhun
  • Gbense – Yardu
  • Gorama Kono – Kangama
  • Kamara – Tombodu
  • Lei – Siama
  • Mafindor – Kamiendor
  • Nimikoro – Njaiama
  • Nimiyama – Sewafe
  • Sandor – Kayima
  • Soa – Kainkordu
  • Tankoro – New Sembehun
  • Toli – Kondewakor

Northern Province

Bombali District

Kambia District

Koinadugu District

Port Loko District

  • Bureh Kaseh – Mange
  • Buya Romende – Foredugu
  • Debia – Gbinti
  • Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
  • Loko Massama – Petifu
  • Maforki – Port Loko
  • Marampa – Lunsar
  • Masimera – Masimera
  • Koya – Songo
  • Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
  • T.M. Safroko – Miraykulay

Tonkolili District

  • Gbonkolenken – Yele
  • Kafe Simiria – Mabonto
  • Kalansongoia – Bumbuna
  • Kholifa Mabang – Mabang
  • Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka
  • Kunike Barina – Makali
  • Kunike – Masingbi
  • Malal Mara – Rochin
  • Sambaia – Bendugu
  • Tane – Matotoka
  • Yoni – Bana

Southern Province

Bo District

  • Badjia – Ngelehun
  • Bagbo – Jimmi
  • Bagbwe – Ngarlu
  • Baoma – Baoma
  • Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
  • Gbo – Gbo
  • Jaiama Bongor – Telu
  • Kakua – Kakua
  • Komboya – Njala
  • Lugbu – Sumbuya
  • Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
  • Selenga – Dambala
  • Tikonko – Tikonko
  • Valunia – Mongere
  • Wonde – Gboyama

Bonthe District

  • Bendu – Cha Bendu
  • Bum – Madina
  • Dema – Tissana
  • Imperri – Gbangbama
  • Jong – Mattru
  • Kpanda – Kemo Motuo
  • Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
  • Nongoba Bullom – Gbap
  • Sittia – Yonni
  • Sogbini – Tihun
  • Yawbeko – Talia

Moyamba District

  • Bagruwa – Sembehun
  • Banta – Gbangbantoke
  • Bumpe – Rotifunk
  • Dasse – Mano
  • Fakunya – Gandohun
  • Kagboro – Shenge
  • Kaiyamba – Moyamba
  • Kamajei – Senehun
  • Kongbora – Bauya
  • Kori – Taiama
  • Kowa – Njama
  • Ribbi – Bradford
  • Timdale – Bomotoke
  • Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tristan Reed and James A. Robinson, The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone, Scholar, Harvard University, 15 July 2013, Document available online, accessed 30 April 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Daron Acemoglu, Tristan Reed. and James A. Robinson. "Chiefs: Economic Development and Elite Control of Civil Society in Sierra Leone", Stanford University, 29 August 2013, accessed 30 April 2014
  3. ↑ Acemoglu et al. (2013), "Chiefs: Economic Development", p. 4

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