Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

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 Biriwa – Kamabai Bombali Shebora – Makeni Gbanti Kamaranka – Kamaranka Gbendembu Ngowahun – Kalangba Libeisaygahun – Batkanu Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa Makari Gbanti – Masongbon Paki Massabong – Mapaki Safroko Limba – Binkolo Sanda Loko – Kamalo Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi Sella Limba – Kamakwie Tambakha – Fintonia

Kambia District Briama – Kukuna Gbinle Dixing – Tawuya Magbema – Kambia Mambolo – Mambolo Masungbala – Kawula Samu – Kychum Tonko Limba – Madina

Koinadugu District Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia Diang – Kondembaia Folasaba – Musaia Kasunko – Fadugu Mongo – Bendugu Neya – Krubola Nieni – Yiffin Sengbe – Yogomaia Sulima – Falaba Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

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

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

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 Barri – Potoru Gallines Perri – Blama Kpaka – Masam Kpanga Kagonde – Pujehun Makpele – Zimmi Malen – Sahn Mano Sakrim – Gbonjema Panga Krim – Gobaru Peje – Futta Soro Gbema – Fairo Sowa – Bandajuma Yekomo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu

See also

• Administrative divisions of Sierra Leone

References

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. 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

External links

• Sierra Leone.org