Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone explained

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."

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.

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.

Pre-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Kailahun District

  1. Dea – Baiwala
  2. JaluahunSegbwema
  3. JaweiDaru
  4. Kissi Kama – Dea
  5. Kissi TengKangama
  6. Kissi Tongi – Buedu
  7. LuawaKailahun
  8. Malema – Jojoima
  9. Mandu – Mobai
  10. Peje Bongre – Manowa
  11. Peje West – Bunumbu
  12. Penguia – Sandar
  13. Upper BambaraPendembu
  14. Yawei – Bandajuma

Kenema District

  1. Dama – Giema
  2. Dodo – Dodo
  3. Gaura – Joru
  4. Gorama Mende – Tungie
  5. Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
  6. Koya – Baoma
  7. Langurama Ya – Baima
  8. Lower BambaraPanguma
  9. Malehgohun – Sembehun
  10. Niawa – Sundumei
  11. NomoFaama
  12. NongowaKenema
  13. SimbaruBoajibu
  14. Small BoBlama
  15. Tunkia – Gorahun
  16. Wandor – Faala

Kono District

  1. Fiama – Njagbwema
  2. Gbane Kandor – Koardu
  3. Gbane – Ngandorhun
  4. Gbense – Yardu
  5. Gorama KonoKangama
  6. KamaraTombodu
  7. Lei – Siama
  8. Mafindor – Kamiendor
  9. Nimikoro – Njaiama
  10. NimiyamaSewafe
  11. SandorKayima
  12. Soa – Kainkordu
  13. TankoroNew Sembehun
  14. Toli – Kondewakor

Northern Province

Bombali District

  1. BiriwaKamabai
  2. Bombali SheboraMakeni
  3. Gbanti KamarankaKamaranka
  4. Gbendembu NgowahunKalangba
  5. LibeisaygahunBatkanu
  6. Magbaiamba NdowahunHunduwa
  7. Makari GbantiMasongbon
  8. Paki MassabongMapaki
  9. Safroko LimbaBinkolo
  10. Sanda LokoKamalo
  11. Sanda TenrarenMateboi
  12. Sella LimbaKamakwie
  13. TambakhaFintonia

Koinadugu District

  1. Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
  2. Diang – Kondembaia
  3. Folasaba – Musaia
  4. Kasunko – Fadugu
  5. MongoBendugu
  6. Neya – Krubola
  7. Nieni – Yiffin
  8. Sengbe – Yogomaia
  9. SulimaFalaba
  10. Wara-Wara Bafodia – Bafodea
  11. Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

Tonkolili District

  1. Gbonkolenken – Yele
  2. Kafe Simiria – Mabonto
  3. Kalanthuba – Kamankay
  4. Dansogoia - Bumbuna
  5. Kholifa Mabang - Mabang
  6. Kholifa RowallaMagburaka
  7. Kunike – Masingbi
  8. Kunike Barina – Makali
  9. Malal Mara – Rochin
  10. Sambaia – Bendugu
  11. TaneMatotoka
  12. YoniYonibana

North Western Province

Kambia District

  1. Brimaia – Kukuna
  2. Gbinle Dixing – Tawuya
  3. MagbemaKambia
  4. Mambolo – Mambolo
  5. Masungbala – Kawula
  6. Samu – Kychum
  7. Tonko Limba – Madina

Port Loko District

  1. Bureh – Mange
  2. Buya Romende – Foredugu
  3. DebiaGbinti
  4. Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
  5. Kasseh – Mahera
  6. Koya – Songo
  7. Loko MasamaPetifu
  8. Maconteh – Unknown
  9. MaforkiPort Loko
  10. MarampaLunsar
  11. Masimera – Masimera
  12. Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
  13. T.M. Safroko – Miraykulay

Southern Province

Bo District

  1. Badjia – Ngelehun
  2. BagboJimmi
  3. Bagbwe – Ngarlu
  4. BaomaBaoma
  5. Bumpe–GaoBumpe
  6. Gbo – Gbo
  7. Jaiama BongorTelu
  8. KakuaBo town
  9. Komboya – Njala
  10. Lugbu – Sumbuya
  11. Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
  12. SelengaDambala
  13. TikonkoTikonko
  14. Valunia – Mongere
  15. Wonde – Gboyama

Bonthe District

  1. Bendu – Cha Bendu
  2. Bum – Madina
  3. DemaTissana
  4. Imperri – Gbangbama
  5. JongMattru
  6. Kpanda – Kemo Motuo
  7. Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
  8. Nongoba BullomGbap
  9. Sittia – Yonni
  10. SogbiniTihun
  11. Yawbeko – Talia

Moyamba District

  1. BagruwaSembehun
  2. BumpeRotifunk
  3. DasseMano
  4. Fakunya – Gandohun
  5. KagboroShenge
  6. KaiyambaMoyamba
  7. Kamajei – Senehun
  8. Kongbora – Bauya
  9. Kori – Taiama
  10. Kowa – Njama
  11. Lower BantaGbangbatoke
  12. RibbiBradford
  13. Timdale – Bomotoke
  14. Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

  1. Barri – Potoru
  2. Gallines PerriBlama
  3. KpakaMasam
  4. Kpanga Kabonde – Pujehun town
  5. MakpeleZimmi
  6. Malen – Sahn
  7. Mano Sa Krim – Gbonjema
  8. Kpanga Krim – Gobaru
  9. Peje – Futta
  10. Sorogbema – Fairo
  11. Sowa – Bandajuma
  12. Yakemo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu

Post-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Kailahun District

  1. Dea – Baiwala
  2. Jahn – ?
  3. JaluahunSegbwema
  4. JaweiDaru
  5. Kissi Kama – Dea
  6. Kissi TengKangama
  7. Kissi Tongi – Buedu
  8. LuawaKailahun
  9. Malema – Jojoima
  10. Mandu – Mobai
  11. Peje Bongre – Manowa
  12. Peje West – Bunumbu
  13. Penguia – Sandar
  14. Upper BambaraPendembu
  15. Yawei – Bandajuma
Notes:

Kenema District

  1. Dama – Giema
  2. Dodo – Dodo
  3. Gaura – Joru
  4. Gorama Mende – Tungie
  5. Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
  6. Koya – Baoma
  7. Langurama Ya – Baima
  8. Lower BambaraPanguma
  9. Malegohun – Sembehun
  10. Niawa – Sundumei
  11. NomoFaama
  12. Nongowa – ?
  13. SimbaruBoajibu
  14. Small BoBlama
  15. Tunkia – Gorahun
  16. Wando – Faala
  17. Kenema CityKenema
Notes:

Kono District

  1. Fiama – Njagbwema
  2. Gbane Kandor – Koardu
  3. Gbane – Ngandorhun
  4. Gbense – Yardu
  5. Gorama KonoKangama
  6. KamaraTombodu
  7. Lei – Siama
  8. Mafindor – Kamiendor
  9. Nimikoro – Njaiama
  10. NimiyamaSewafe
  11. SandorKayima
  12. Soa – Kainkordu
  13. Tankoro – Bayama Tankoo
  14. Toli – Kondewakor
  15. Koidu TownKoidu
Notes:

Northern Province

Bombali District

  1. BiriwaKamabai
  2. Bombali Shebora – ?
  3. Bombali Siari – ?
  4. Gbanti – ?
  5. Gbendembu – ?
  6. KamarankaKamaranka
  7. Magbaiamba NdowahunHunduwa
  8. MakariMasongbon
  9. Mara – ?
  10. NgowahunKalangba
  11. Paki MassabongMapaki
  12. Safroko LimbaBinkolo
  13. Makeni CityMakeni
Notes:

Falaba District

  1. Delemandugu – ?
  2. Dembelia – Musaia
  3. Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
  4. Folasaba – ?
  5. Kamadu Yiraia – ?
  6. Kebelia – ?
  7. Kulor Saradu – ?
  8. MongoBendugu
  9. Morfindugu – ?
  10. Neya – Krubola
  11. Nyedu – ?
  12. SulimaFalaba
  13. Wollay Barawa – ?
Notes:

Koinadugu District

  1. Diang – Kondembaia
  2. Gbonkobon Kayaka – ?
  3. Kalian – ?
  4. Kamukeh' – ?
  5. Kasunko KaKellian – ?
  6. Nieni – Yiffin
  7. Sengbe – Yogomaia
  8. Tamiso – Fadugu
  9. Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea
  10. Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria
Notes:

Tonkolili District

  1. DansogoiaBumbuna
  2. Gbonkolenken Masankong – Yele
  3. Kafe – ?
  4. Kalanthuba – ?
  5. Kholifa Mabang – Mabang
  6. Kholifa Mamuntha Mayosso – ?
  7. Kholifa RowallaMagburaka
  8. Kunike Barina – Makali
  9. Kunike Folawusu – ?
  10. Kunike Sanda – Masingbi
  11. Malal – Rochin
  12. Mayeppoh – ?
  13. Poli – ?
  14. Sambaia – Bendugu
  15. Simiria – Mabonto
  16. TaneMatotoka
  17. Yele – ?
  18. Yoni Mabanta – ?
  19. Yoni MamailaYonibana
Notes:

North Western Province

Kambia District

  1. Briama – Kukuna
  2. Dixing – Mafaray
  3. Gbinle – Tawuya
  4. Khonimakha – Kabaya
  5. MagbemaKambia
  6. Mambolo – Mambolo
  7. Masungbala – Kawula
  8. Munu Thala – Thala
  9. Samu – Kychum
  10. Tonko Limba – Madina
Notes:

Karene District

  1. Buya – ?
  2. DebiaGbinti
  3. Gbanti – ?
  4. Libeisaygahun-GbombahunBatkanu
  5. Mafonda Makerembay – ?
  6. Romende – Foredugu
  7. Safroko – ?
  8. Sanda LokoKamalo
  9. Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
  10. Sanda TenrarenMateboi
  11. Sella LimbaKamakwie
  12. Tambakha Simibungie – ?
  13. Tambakha YobangieFintonia
Notes:

Port Loko District

  1. Bakeh Loko – ?
  2. Bureh – Mange
  3. Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
  4. Kamasondo – ?
  5. Kaseh – ?
  6. Koya – Songo
  7. Loko MassamaPetifu
  8. Maconteh – ?
  9. Maforki – ?
  10. Makama – Miraykulay
  11. MarampaLunsar
  12. Masimera – Masimera
  13. Tinkatopa – ?
  14. Port Loko CityPort Loko
Notes:

Southern Province

Bo District

  1. Badjia – Ngelehun
  2. BagboJimmi
  3. Bagbwe – Ngarlu
  4. BaomaBaoma
  5. BongorTelu
  6. Bumpe–GaoBumpe
  7. Gbo – Gbo
  8. Jaiama – ?
  9. Kakua – Kakua
  10. Komboya – Njala
  11. Lugbu – Sumbuya
  12. Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
  13. SelengaDambala
  14. TikonkoTikonko
  15. Valunia – Mongere
  16. Wonde – Gboyama
  17. Bo CityBo
Notes:

Bonthe District

  1. Bendu – Cha Bendu
  2. Bum – Madina
  3. DemaTissana
  4. Imperri – Gbangbama
  5. JongMattru
  6. Kpanda Kemo – Kemo Motuo
  7. Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
  8. Nongoba BullomGbap
  9. Sittia – Yonni
  10. SogbiniTihun
  11. Yawbeko – Talia
  12. Bonthe UrbanBonthe
Notes:

Moyamba District

  1. BagruwaSembehun
  2. BumpeRotifunk
  3. DasseMano
  4. Fakunya – Gandohun
  5. KagboroShenge
  6. KaiyambaMoyamba
  7. Kamajei – Senehun
  8. Kongbora – Bauya
  9. Kori – Taiama
  10. Kowa – Njama
  11. Lower BantaGbangbatoke
  12. RibbiBradford
  13. Timdale – Bomotoke
  14. Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

  1. Barri – Potoru
  2. Gallines – ?
  3. Kagonde – ?
  4. KpakaMasam
  5. KpangaPujehun
  6. MakpeleZimmi
  7. Malen – Sahn
  8. Mano Sakrim – Gbonjema
  9. Panga Krim – Gobaru
  10. Peje – Futta
  11. PerriBlama
  12. Soro Gbema – Fairo
  13. Sowa – Bandajuma
  14. Yekomo Kpukumu – Karlu
Notes:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sierra Leone unveils new geographical map. Africa Review. 2018-02-01. en-UK. https://web.archive.org/web/20180221142807/http://www.africareview.com/news/Sierra-Leone-unveils-new-geographical-map/979180-4041036-4x8dfaz/index.html. 2018-02-21. dead.
  2. http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jrobinson/files/history.pdf Tristan Reed and James A. Robinson, The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone
  3. http://public-prod-acquia.gsb.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pe_10_13_Robinson_0.pdf Daron Acemoglu, Tristan Reed. and James A. Robinson. "Chiefs: Economic Development and Elite Control of Civil Society in Sierra Leone"
  4. Acemoglu et al. (2013), "Chiefs: Economic Development", p. 4