Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

The chiefdoms of Sierra Leone are the third-level units of administration in Sierra Leone. There are 190 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, as of 2017. Previously, there were 149.^[1]

History and organisation

The paramount chiefs and the ruling families in the chiefdoms were recognised and empowered by the British colonial administration when it organised the Protectorate of Sierra Leone in 1896.^[2] Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas."^[3]

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 recognised by the British administration in 1896.^[3]

Some chieftaincies have several ruling families, and the differences among them in terms of economic progress has been subject to study in 2013.^[3] 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.^[4]

The districts of Sierra Leone were divided into 149 chiefdoms of chieftaincies until 2017, as listed below as of 2011.^[2] Since 2017, they have been divided into 190 chiefdoms.^[1]

Pre-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Northern Province

Bombali District

Koinadugu District

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

Tonkolili District

North Western Province

Kambia District

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

Port Loko District

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

Southern Province

Bo District

Badjia – Ngelehun
Bagbo – Jimmi
Bagbwe – Ngarlu
Baoma – Baoma
Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
Gbo – Gbo
Jaiama Bongor – Telu
Kakua – Bo town
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
Bumpe – Rotifunk
Dasse – Mano
Fakunya – Gandohun
Kagboro – Shenge
Kaiyamba – Moyamba
Kamajei – Senehun
Kongbora – Bauya
Kori – Taiama
Kowa – Njama
Lower Banta – Gbangbatoke
Ribbi – Bradford
Timdale – Bomotoke
Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

Barri – Potoru
Gallines Perri – Blama
Kpaka – Masam
Kpanga Kabonde – Pujehun town
Makpele – Zimmi
Malen – Sahn
Mano Sa Krim – Gbonjema
Kpanga Krim – Gobaru
Peje – Futta
Sorogbema – Fairo
Sowa – Bandajuma
Yakemo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu

Post-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Kailahun District

Dea – Baiwala
Jahn^[a] – ?
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

Notes

^ Formerly part of Jaluahun Chiefdom.

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 – ?
Simbaru – Boajibu
Small Bo – Blama
Tunkia – Gorahun
Wando – Faala
Kenema City^[a] – Kenema

Notes

^ Formerly part of Nongowa Chiefdom.

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 – Bayama Tankoo
Toli – Kondewakor
Koidu Town^[a] – Koidu

Notes

^ Formerly part of Gbense Chiefdom.

Northern Province

Bombali District

Biriwa – Kamabai
Bombali Shebora – ?
Bombali Siari^[a] – ?
Gbanti^[b] – ?
Gbendembu^[c] – ?
Kamaranka^[d] – Kamaranka
Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa
Makari^[b] – Masongbon
Mara^[e] – ?
Ngowahun^[c] – Kalangba
Paki Massabong – Mapaki
Safroko Limba – Binkolo
Makeni City^[a] – Makeni

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Bombali Shebora Chiefdom.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Makari Gbanti Chiefdom; split off.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom; split off, with Gbanti Chiefdom moving to Karene District.
^ Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom; moved from Tonkolili District.

Falaba District

Delemandugu^[a] – ?
Dembelia^[b] – Musaia
Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
Folasaba – ?
Kamadu Yiraia^[c] – ?
Kebelia^[d] – ?
Kulor Saradu^[e] – ?
Mongo – Bendugu
Morfindugu^[a] – ?
Neya – Krubola
Nyedu^[e] – ?
Sulima – Falaba
Wollay Barawa^[f] – ?

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Mongo Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Folasaba Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Sengbe Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off.
^ Formerly part of Sulima Chiefdom.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Neya Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off.

Koinadugu District

Diang – Kondembaia
Gbonkobon Kayaka^[a] – ?
Kalian^[b] – ?
Kamukeh^[c]' – ?
Kasunko KaKellian – ?
Nieni^[d] – Yiffin
Sengbe^[e] – Yogomaia
Tamiso^[a] – Fadugu
Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea
Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Kasunko Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Wara-Wara Bafodea Chiefdom.
^ Lost area to Wollay Barawa Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District.
^ Lost area to Kamadu Yirala Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District.

Tonkolili District

Dansogoia^[a] – Bumbuna
Gbonkolenken Masankong – Yele
Kafe^[b] – ?
Kalanthuba^[a] – ?
Kholifa Mabang – Mabang
Kholifa Mamuntha Mayosso^[c] – ?
Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka
Kunike Barina – Makali
Kunike Folawusu^[d] – ?
Kunike Sanda – Masingbi
Malal^[e] – Rochin
Mayeppoh^[f] – ?
Poli^[f] – ?
Sambaia – Bendugu
Simiria^[b] – Mabonto
Tane – Matotoka
Yele^[f] – ?
Yoni Mabanta^[g] – ?
Yoni Mamaila^[g] – Yonibana

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Kalansongoia Chiefdom; split off.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Kunike Sanda Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom before losing the Mara section.
^ ^a ^b ^c Formerly part of Gbonkolenken Chiefdom
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Yoni Chiefdom; split off.

North Western Province

Kambia District

Briama – Kukuna
Dixing^[a] – Mafaray
Gbinle^[a] – Tawuya
Khonimakha^[b] – Kabaya
Magbema – Kambia
Mambolo – Mambolo
Masungbala – Kawula
Munu Thala^[c] – Thala
Samu – Kychum
Tonko Limba – Madina

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Gbinle Dixing Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Briama Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Masungbala Chiefdom.

Karene District

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Buya Romende Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom from Bombali District before splitting off.
^ Formerly part of Libeisaygahun-Gbombahun Chiefdom.
^ Formerly part of Debia Chiefdom.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Tambakha Chiefdom; split off.

Port Loko District

Bakeh Loko^[a] – ?
Bureh^[b] – Mange
Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
Kamasondo^[c] – ?
Kaseh^[b] – ?
Koya – Songo
Loko Massama – Petifu
Maconteh^[b] – ?
Maforki – ?
Makama^[d] – Miraykulay
Marampa – Lunsar
Masimera – Masimera
Tinkatopa^[d] – ?
Port Loko City^[a] – Port Loko

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Maforki Chiefdom.
^ ^a ^b ^c Formerly part of Bureh Kaseh Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Loko Massama Chiefdom.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of T.M. Safroko Chiefdom; split off.

Southern Province

Bo District

Badjia – Ngelehun
Bagbo – Jimmi
Bagbwe – Ngarlu
Baoma – Baoma
Bongor^[a] – Telu
Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
Gbo – Gbo
Jaiama^[a] – ?
Kakua – Kakua
Komboya – Njala
Lugbu – Sumbuya
Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
Selenga – Dambala
Tikonko – Tikonko
Valunia – Mongere
Wonde – Gboyama
Bo City^[b] – Bo

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Jaiama Bongor Chiefdom; split off.
^ Formerly part of Kakua Chiefdom.

Bonthe District

Bendu – Cha Bendu
Bum – Madina
Dema – Tissana
Imperri – Gbangbama
Jong – Mattru
Kpanda Kemo – Kemo Motuo
Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
Nongoba Bullom – Gbap
Sittia – Yonni
Sogbini – Tihun
Yawbeko – Talia
Bonthe Urban^[a] – Bonthe

Notes

^ Formerly part of Sittia Chiefdom.

Moyamba District

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

Pujehun District

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

Notes

^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Gallines Perri Chiefdom; split off.
^ ^a ^b Formerly part of Kpanga Kagonde Chiefdom; split off.

References

^ ^a ^b "Sierra Leone unveils new geographical map". Africa Review. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
^ ^a ^b Tristan Reed and James A. Robinson, The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone, Scholar, Harvard University, 15 July 2013, Document available online, accessed 30 April 2014
^ ^a ^b ^c Daron Acemoglu, Tristan Reed. and James A. Robinson. "Chiefs: Economic Development and Elite Control of Civil Society in Sierra Leone" Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, Stanford University, 29 August 2013, accessed 30 April 2014
^ Acemoglu et al. (2013), "Chiefs: Economic Development", p. 4

External links

Sierra Leone.org

[5] Formerly part of Jaluahun Chiefdom.

[6] Formerly part of Nongowa Chiefdom.

[7] Formerly part of Gbense Chiefdom.

[a-8] Formerly part of Bombali Shebora Chiefdom.

[b-9] Formerly part of Makari Gbanti Chiefdom; split off.

[c-10] Formerly part of Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom; split off.

[d-11] Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom; split off, with Gbanti Chiefdom moving to Karene District.

[12] Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom; moved from Tonkolili District.

[a-13] Formerly part of Mongo Chiefdom.

[14] Formerly part of Folasaba Chiefdom.

[15] Formerly part of Sengbe Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off.

[16] Formerly part of Sulima Chiefdom.

[b-17] Formerly part of Neya Chiefdom.

[18] Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off.

[a-19] Formerly part of Kasunko Chiefdom; split off.

[20] Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom.

[21] Formerly part of Wara-Wara Bafodea Chiefdom.

[22] Lost area to Wollay Barawa Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District.

[23] Lost area to Kamadu Yirala Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District.

[a-24] Formerly part of Kalansongoia Chiefdom; split off.

[b-25] Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom.

[26] Formerly part of Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom.

[27] Formerly part of Kunike Sanda Chiefdom.

[28] Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom before losing the Mara section.

[c-29] Formerly part of Gbonkolenken Chiefdom

[d-30] Formerly part of Yoni Chiefdom; split off.

[a-31] Formerly part of Gbinle Dixing Chiefdom; split off.

[32] Formerly part of Briama Chiefdom.

[33] Formerly part of Masungbala Chiefdom.

[a-34] Formerly part of Buya Romende Chiefdom; split off.

[35] Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom from Bombali District before splitting off.

[36] Formerly part of Libeisaygahun-Gbombahun Chiefdom.

[37] Formerly part of Debia Chiefdom.

[b-38] Formerly part of Tambakha Chiefdom; split off.

[a-39] Formerly part of Maforki Chiefdom.

[b-40] Formerly part of Bureh Kaseh Chiefdom; split off.

[41] Formerly part of Loko Massama Chiefdom.

[c-42] Formerly part of T.M. Safroko Chiefdom; split off.

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Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

History and organisation

Pre-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Northern Province

North Western Province

Southern Province

Post-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Northern Province

North Western Province

Southern Province

See also

References

External links