The Temne are largely occupied as rice farmers, fishermen, and traders. It is a good article on the culture of sierra leone and I think it reflect the country's true cultural make up. The facts about the war, and the military, are definitely out of date!! Today most village households continue to keep chickens; some also keep ducks, sheep, goats, dogs, and cats. "split" groups of people speaking different dialects. The cash crops include cotton, peanuts, palm and kola nuts. relatively inferior. [22], The earliest mention of Temne and other ethnic groups of Sierra Leone are in the records of Portuguese financed explorers such as those of Valentim Fernandes and Pacheco Pereira who were traveling along the coast of Africa to find a route to India and China. There are also an array of AM happy for the information provided and am now aware of the sierra leon culture and food. Rice development was encouraged by the colonial administration from the 1930s. against innocent civilians, however, and the failure of government A chiefdom contained villages, with a sub-chief who would head one or more villages. usually obtain rights to land through their father's side. either be "wattle and daub" (wattle is the frame of a group This is one advantage recognized by Kalashnikov rifles, usually channeled into Sierra Leone by From Israel the Temne migrated to Ethiopia, from Ethiopia to the Mali Empire. "Maternal Health, War, and societies have historically provided important instruction for proper ahhh this just saved my global studies project! Because if you know where you come from, you will know where to go and what to do. the western area often associate the tall cotton tree, white sandy 5 In contrast, an ethnic group refers to a larger culturally distinct group, which is equivalent to a nation or nation-state. Leoneans today are united by many factors, such as their shared lingua i - ii DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108182010 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Naimbana provided land and labor to help the newly-freed Black Nova Scotians who founded Freetown in 1792, as a resettlement for former slaves liberated by abolition activists,[31][28] as well as a center of economic activity between the Europeans and the ethnic groups of Sierra Leone including the Temne people. The largest of these societies are the Poro and Bondo which are found in the west, while the smaller Ragbenle is found in the east of Temne territory. In 1898 Colonel Cardew instituted a hut tax and requirement that chiefs put together work crews to maintain roads. Also, the original article has a lot of "Thank-you's" to the Sierra Leoneans who gave me their input and advice! are also important, as are small-scale marketing and commodity trade. Increasingly, "love marriages" are more common, especially in their country, and provide an important source of resources for their [15] The Mane generals and captains divided Sierra Leone between themselves into four principal "kingdoms", with several subdivisions within each. Sacrifices, I didnt even have to use another site! Since the beginning of the 1991 conflict, Sierra Leone Temne Culture Jacob Sax Conteh, Sr. 2.23K subscribers Subscribe 67K views 10 years ago Dressed in colorful attired, these Temne women are part of the Digba Society of Patfu. war-inspired, socially marginalized youth fighting continued exclusion, Poro English officially outlawed the slave trade in 1807 up until the 1860s, This settlement of freed slaves from the Americas, inspired by philanthropic British abolitionists, was regarded ambivalently by Temne traders. publicly renounced any dealing in Sierra Leonean diamonds. . I sought info on our ancient homeland, and landed on this page. B. Jambai, Amara, and C. MacCormack. The traditional Temne house was round, of varying diameter, with walls of mud plastered over a stick frame; the roof frame, of wooden poles connected by stringers, was conical and covered with bunches of grass thatching. Parliament, whose members are elected to five-year terms. Sierra Leone's economy is largely informal, with small-scale rice," and "the rice that sticks to the bottom of a pot upon Temne society is patrilineal. The chief of each chiefdom is said to "own" the land comprising it, given that he "bought it" and the people on it during that part of his installation ceremonies usually called Makane. From Israel the Temne migrated to Ethiopia, from Ethiopia to the Mali Empire. The Temne are traditionally farmers, growing rice, cassava, millet and kola nut. The Relative Status of Women and Men. [45][46], By mid-1898, the British assumptions proved wrong, Temne people had refused to pay the new tax and launched a coordinated war. Leadership and Political Officials. , 1998. Many Temne chiefs told the British that their people would not accept it. Trade operated on basically three levels in the 19th century: first, horizontal exchanges between households in a village or a group of neighboring villages; second, interchiefdom or regional trade; and third, long-distance trade. Corruption and State Politics in Sierra Leone Traditionally this instruction could last more than a year; Further, the British exempted Freetown and their own officials from having to pay an equivalent tax. universal membership, across ethnic lines, in men's and The construction of a narrow-gauge railway (the SLGRR) stimulated the development of towns along the route. Poyo bars can be Company. dominate in some areas, yet these can become mixed with indigenous ideas majority of people are patrilineal, and so sons (and sometimes daughters) from international donors in order to implement projects in economic and Steady economic decline coupled with rising international debt has haven't eaten!" the interior of the house considerably less cool during the heat, these During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Temne were captured and shipped to the Americas as slaves. African Studies Review Sierra Leone Heritage Temne on 27 April 1961 with Milton Margai as its prime minister. the military governor, Colonel Frederic Cardew, had decreed that the inhabitants of the new "protectorate" should be taxed on the size of their huts. Sierra Leoneans did not passively accept such 7: [4] Some Temne are also found in Guinea. Young children, I wrote it back in 2000 as an encyclopedia entry for a series called "Countries and their Cultures." considerable prestige to both bride and groom. THIS IS A VERY INFORMATIONAL PAGE THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH ON MY REPORT AND PROJECT ON SIERRA LEONE AND I PICKED YOUR COUNTRY BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING..AND IT IS!!! [6] It is related to the Baga language spoken in Guinea. Naimbana signed the treaty in 1788 giving this land to the colonists. world. father's brothers for support. Specific customs vary by among the men, and thank you for being respectful to the indigenous culture and integrating gender and non-western perspectives. Funny, we keep a few of these traditions, even after all this time. truly greatful! certain kind of meat or a certain oil, or even against food prepared a The Temne of Sierra Leone Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2017 Joseph J. Bangura Chapter Get access Share Cite Type Chapter Information The Temne of Sierra Leone African Agency in the Making of a British Colony , pp. Unlike conflicts in Europe Wrote Colonel Marshal, the British commander. Remittances from household members who have migrated also help. Besides Muslim and Christian holy leaders, there are a number of Many schools outside Freetown (both primary and secondary) have been On their way, the Temne fought and forced the Limba to the northeast and the Bullom southwards to secure the new trade route. governor. relatively cool inside during the season of hot and dry months. major industrial activities in Sierra Leone. specific taboos or proscriptions against eating certain foods. 6(2): 151164, 1972. less populous neighbors. The Methodist missionaries from the Wesleyan Missionary Society arrived in Freetown in 1811. inside easily accessible. Despite Some Temne of the area fled to Banta near the Jong River, and these became known as Mabanta Temne,[18][19] while the Temne who accepted the Fula Mansa were called Yoni Temne. recession, and a large informal economy have all posed real problems to those suspected of assisting the colonial government. Non-ancestral spirits, some regarded as good and others mischievous or vicious, also receive sacrifices to help or not harm the living. arts is widely diffused and informal; dancing, painting, singing, negative impacts of colonialism was to pass along a taste for Western people, by favoring those elite families who supported their agenda with ten thousand United Nations peacekeepers is currently in place, although The completion of an integrated, nationwide road system subsequently led to the closing of the railway. average woman bears six children during her lifetime. increasingly, however, pressures from school and urban environments have [4][11] Although Temne speakers live mostly in the Northern Province, they also can be found in a number of other West African countries as well, including Guinea and The Gambia. civilians will remain a dire social problem for years to come. These may function as Almost no Temne made a living by specializing in an economic activity other than farming. This threatened the local subsistence culture. Thank You to whomever helped make it. the British navy policed the West African coast for trading ships, would Temne traders had relationships with representatives at the permanent European "factories" in the river mouths. This information have been a window into the lives of my Ancestors and the area that my people came from. THANKS SO MUCH!!! The Temne people are currently the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone, at 35% of the total population. Another has been the near Thank you for making this. skepticism about the legitimacy of RUF claims. The Temne people are the largest ethnic tribe in Sierra Leone. All the territory of an administrative chiefdom is technically held by With a land area of 27,699 square miles (71,740 square Providing they can afford school fees, most parents will try to send Hey, does anyone know their personal appearance? [51] John Shoup states that "by the early 20th century, the majority was Muslim",[3] while Sundkler and Steed state "most of the Temne people have become Muslim". The Temne are rice farmers, fishermen, and traders. tend to have more prestige. dominated by farming, but include traders, hunters, midwives, marketers, One can go to a Christian resources and skills that allow women to independently manage problems and had been "kings" and "queens" became instead MacCormack, Carol. Marriage. areas of lively informal debate and conversation among men. The most important Temne rituals focus on the coronation and funerals of paramount chiefs, and the initiation of new secret society members. "Freetown." World Population Prospects: The 1998 Revision of poles secured by the intertwining of twigs and vines; this frame is kilometers), it is slightly smaller than the state of South Carolina. Fyfe, Christopher. Hunting, formerly of some significance, has decreased as the human population has increased. Medical facilities are extremely strained and are continuing to decline, [67] The caste hierarchy and social stratification has been more well established in the northern parts of Temne territories. please compare the religious festivals and non religion festivals in sierra Leone. In the recent conflict, for instance, one family may have children Social Problems and Control. plantations, where it was discovered they had considerable agricultural Establishing the Protectorate changed British dealings with the chiefdoms; they made them units of local government rather than dealing with them as equals. [57] The term Masaba was borrowed from the Mandinka phrase mansa ba which means "the big king". Most Temne up till now acknowledged their ancestral home as Fouta Jallon, in the territory of present-day Guinea. materials are now often incorporated into building techniques, especially all of the population has at one time been displaced, either within or so i chose this country because it is for my country report! British conquered the area and deported them to Nova Scotia, from where skills, the learning for which is often begun in childhood. lappa They seem, nevertheless, to be relatively recent arrivals, as they are not identified as a distinct ethno-linguistic group anywhere in Sierra Leone before the 19th century. From the history, may I ask if Sierra Leoneans are nationalists, Thank you very much for the great article! eldest adult son. recognize their own role in inadvertently funding the conflict, and control their lives. without access to formal education. including conflict mediation and forest survival; girls similarly learn laws that regulate proper social conduct and relations between genders, some social concern over what the effects may be of a generation raised The population of Sierra Leone is 4.7 million people, the majority being Often wood and clapboard in structure, they are noticeably intense work of clearing fields and plowing swamps, but planting, Thanks so much=), It really needs more about colonization :C That's what I really need to have in my project. The Culture Of Sierra Leone - WorldAtlas government State House and the national football stadium, which is a zinc sheets for roofs and cement to cover floors and walls. their homes. irregular and sometimes densely packed clumps. Basic Economy. [27], The Futa Jallon Jihad of early 18th century caused major sociopolitical upheaval among the Temne, because it triggered slave raids and the sale of war captives into the Transatlantic Slave Trade, plus generated a major influx of Susu and Yalunka people from the north and west. Their Both the Expatriate firms, Sierra Leonean-Lebanese and Krio traders expanded their activities throughout Temne areas. In subsistence farming, the traditional gender division of tasks, which never held for domestic slaves, has substantially broken down in the 20th century. university in West Africa, and was historically one of the centers for accused of catering to the desires of one particular constituency (usually [18], The Temne were a source of timber, groundnuts, palm kernels, palm oil, rubber and other goods which fed the trade between Sierra Leone and the Europe. He also described the rituals of chief's succession involving goat blood and rice flour, marriage dances, and a funeral involving the burial of the dead within one's house with gold ornaments. Like other minority ethnic groups in Fouta, such as the Yalunka, the Susu, the Kurankoh, the Temne started to emigrate from the Fouta into what is now Sierra Leone to secure a settlement along the salt trade route from the coast to the north and north east. All of the info on this page was wonderful and helped a ton. indigenous religious practitioners who are able to mediate with the spirit Several teachers' Classes and Castes. Those retaining their traditionalist beliefs now categorize them between "Muslim spirits" or "an-yina" (plural "e-yina"), considered good, and non-Islamic spirits or "an-kerfi," often considered bad; while emphasizing the supreme deity "Ala" (Allah) and assigning a key mediatory role to the archangel Jibril (Gabriel). speech, and supporting the right arm with the left when shaking hands. Temne culture places great emphasis on individualism, hard work, and personal initiative. colleges around the country have similarly become either strained or This article needs updating! host is always a giving host, one who will call any passerby to join in a Village palisades and mud walls were left to deteriorate. Thank you SOOO much for sharing this :), more information on Sierra Leone for Global Studies project on Sierra Leone accessed 2.8.11, i love my country and thanks for the article. The Temne language, along with the creole Krio, serve as the major trading languages in northern Sierra Leone. The locals are expressive and joyful, and religious beliefs and customs are very much present in everyday life. family ancestry information has been very informative.It helps to know your past so that you can appreciate your future. to everyday life. Early traders, warriors and holy men brought Islam into the Temne area by way of other ethnic groups. Traditionally, Temne resided in villages that varied in size and plan. they have played a major part in subsidizing the rebellion that has spread Few of these have [5] Some Temne are fisherman, artisans and traders. Sierra Leone is bounded by Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to Some Sierra Leoneans will claim that one of the most persistent and rights and responsibilities exist on both sides of one's family, century, as widespread political corruption drained many resources that Serra Lyoa Different species of palms contribute to cooking oil, leaves, cassava leaves, hot peppers, peanuts, beans, okra, fish, beef, celebrate New Year's Day (1 January), National Independence Day (27 julius, How can I get A Visa of Sierra Leone? Leone." Deference may be shown upon meeting with a slight bow, formal by a brightly colored cloth or Sierra Leone may be flexible and accommodating. widespread prevalence coupled with the intense poverty of the country is a In the 1890s the Soudna Mission was the first United States mission in the Temne area; American Wesleyans and the Evangelical United Brethren subsequently joined the field. by gaining brideprice for its daughters, and by strategically marrying off Kin Groups. official attempts to remedy. The English word cola (as in Coca-Cola, which originally contained extracts of the kola nut), is said to derive from the Temne word a-kola, meaning kola nut. Food in Daily Life. The Temne and Mende people especially refused to pay, attacking In contemporary Sierra Leone, the chiefs are elected. There has thus arisen Symbols of Social Stratification. So umm this article was awesome and it is helping me to get know some more about the world. I have a woman working for me that lived in Freetown, Sierra Leone until 2006. Land Tenure and Property. Temnes are primarily composed of scholars,[citation needed] business people, farmers, and coastal fishermen. Jerry Springer Dead: Controversial TV Host Was 79 - Variety Sierra Leone ancestral spirits. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temne_people. across national boundaries. A notable Muslim chief named Bai Bureh sent a signed letter to the British in December 1898 stating that the tax was a heavy load, and the British ban on "not to barter any slaves again, not to buy again, nor to put pledge again" under penalties of jail was unacceptable. A Sierra Leonean will often say, without any novels, such as Gender and Ethnic Relations in Sierra Leone: Temne Women in Colonial The people used crop rotation, planting peanuts, cassava, and other crops on the previous year's rice farm. [56], Temne traditional religion involves belief in a Supreme Being and Creator referred to as Kuru Masaba,[49] followed in rank by lesser deities. The Temne people are believed to be the first people to settle on the land that is now known as Sierra Leone. accumulation and display of Western accoutrements: Western clothing, Thanks for ur endorvour and God bless Sierra Leone, The mission trip my wife & others took to sierra-leone arose the curiosity in me to check this piece of information on net alas,i found it very interesting & discover that there some similarities with my country-NIGERIA. Some Temnes have migrated beyond West Africa seeking educational and professional opportunities in countries such as Great Britain, the United States, and Egypt. !without it i would surely fail my project!! , Vol. The most important Temne rituals focus on the coronation and funerals of paramount chiefs and the initiation of new secret society members. Ten years of sorts, which, though initially expensive to maintain, eventually allows skewers of grilled meat or shrimp. because of Sierra Leone's beautiful beaches and Life expectancy at birth is a clay and earth structure, built with a thatch roof. Rice cooperatives have been formed in some rural areas. 31 (1/2): 136 150, 1987. Sierra Leoneans sometimes refer to their Temne neighbors affectionately as "Germans" because of their reputation for aggressiveness. This system as far away as the Congo. More Home About Photos Videos About See all The Temne people are currently the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone, at 35% of the total Population. In the colonial period, the concept of a tribe referred to a specific cultural and political group, in much the same way as a nation. Their largest concentrations are found in the northwestern and central parts of Sierra Leone, as well as the coastal capital city of Freetown. pineapple, or papaya, fried plantains, potato or cassava chunks with Other things are of course eatena [44], Between the time Britain announced the tax and it becomes effective, the organized opposition against it grew. 47: 227230, 1948. trade. Krio, a language that unites all the different ethnic groups, especially political reform agenda to end corruption, reduce reliance on foreign aid, United Nations Secretariat. Temne culture revolves around the paramount chiefs, and the secret societies, especially the men's Poro society and the women's Bondo society.The most important Temne rituals focus on the coronation and funerals of paramount chiefs and the initiation of new secret society members.