Tombo, Sierra Leone Explained

Official Name:Tombo, Sierra Leone
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Sierra Leone
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Sierra Leone
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Western Area
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Western Area Rural District
Government Type:Town council
Leader Title:Town Head
Leader Name:Sarah Bah [1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Timezone:GMT
Utc Offset:-5
Coordinates:8.2165°N -13.0953°W

Tombo is a cosmopolitan settlement and is inhabited by several ethnic groups, including the Temne, Sherbro and Limba ethnic groups. The population of Tomba is predominantly Muslim. The town is known for its deeply religious Islamic faith. The town has its own local radio station known as Radio Tombo on MHz 96.1.[3] Tombo is home to the Tombo hospital, that serves the town and its surrounding area [4]

Although part of the larger Western Area district council, Tombo is locally governed by a directly elected town council, headed by a Town Head. In 2013 Mohamed D Mansaray. In 2019 Sarah Bah was elected Town Head.[1]

History

The town was founded by the Sherbro people in the early sixteenth century, years before the colonial era. It is believed that the name "Tombo" is originated from the Sherbro word "thomboc". During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the settlement of Tombo was controlled by the Caulkers, a British slave trade family. During the colonial era, Tombo was almost entirely Sherbro. Many of the Sherbros in the town during the colonial era took the British last name "Caulker".

From colonial days to the present, many descendants of the Sherbro slave trade in Tombo still carry the last name "Caulker". During the late colonial era, some Temne and Limba from Freetown moved to Tombo as traders and fishermen.

Tombo is also known for its football academy built in 2008 by the Craig Bellamy Foundation, where girls and boys receive an international standard education and elite-level football coaching for free.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PRESS STATEMENT ON THE DECLARATION OF RESULTS FOR WESTERN AREA RURAL DISTRICT VILLAGE HEAD ELECTIONS HELD ON SATURDAY 29TH JUNE 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131006082634/http://www.nec-sierraleone.org/index_files/2013_P_Release/Village%20Head%20Elections%20Statement_%20Final%20_%201JULY2013.pdf . 2013-10-06 . nec-sierraleone.org.
  2. Web site: Tombo, Sierra Leone . Ecosalone.com . 2021-06-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160424022418/http://www.ecosalone.com/Tombo%20Sierra%20Leone.html . 2016-04-24.
  3. Web site: at Directnic . Informotrac.org . 2016-04-09.
  4. Web site: SWAASL Trains Animators and Peer Educators in Tombo « Awoko Newspaper . October 21, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131021174942/https://awoko.org/2008/10/23/swaasl-trains-animators-and-peer-educators-in-tombo/ . October 21, 2013 .