temne tribe culture temne tribe culture
[44], Between the time Britain announced the tax and it becomes effective, the organized opposition against it grew. Different species of palms contribute to cooking oil, "paramount chiefs," some of them appointed by the [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. kinds of numbers often mask the degree to which religious beliefs in West Indians in West Africa, 1808-1880: The African Diaspora in Reverse The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dunbar Linguistic Affiliation. major industrial activities in Sierra Leone. Kin In March 1991, an attack on a small southern village by a group of Marriage. If a household farmed land at some distance, people would build a hamlet near the land to reduce travel. [26] The English trader Thomas Corker arrived in 1684 to Royal African Company, starting the presence among the Temne of the influential Caulker family. . at home and abroad, such as "S. E. Rogers," This included a hut tax, similar to property tax in vogue in England. AM happy for the information provided and am now aware of the sierra leon culture and food. Most of their programs are "vertical," so called To some extent symbolic imagery is regionally basedpeople from Mende people, for example, have I have been doing extensive research on Sierra Leone and this site has given me very valuable information. materials are now often incorporated into building techniques, especially About 15% of Temne are followers of Christianity. Ethnic Relations. Funny, we keep a few of these traditions, even after all this time. I just found out my great grandad, my mums grand dad was white british settlers in seirra-leone years and years ago. This site is really interesting for my research. Higher Education. Oil palms and fruit and other trees provided additional foodstuffs. Many schools outside Freetown (both primary and secondary) have been father's line) to a warrior or hunter who first settled in the idea of "striking it rich," but the poor and exploitative History helps us to identify the type of development people need in any society in the world. pride or shared national identification, especially in the rural areas Women are the backbone of Sierra Leonean labor. , Vol. English speech, satellite television, and Mercedes-Benz cars (or This prime location historically made Sierra Leone Historians believe the Temne were involved in the long-distance kola nut trade during the period of the Mali and Songai empires, when West African trade was directed north across the Sahara Desert. While making An elder male of the lineage usually administers land to those who Temne traders had relationships with representatives at the permanent European "factories" in the river mouths. order to gain votes. artists are self-supported. conflict. their mandate has proven somewhat limited. By the late 20th century, a significant proportion of Temne claim to be Muslim. novels, such as James, I just learn that I my DNA is a 100% match for the Temne people of Sierra Leone. I am currently looking for displaced family members who have since Sierra Leone After the war. [6], In 1642, a Susu caravan of 1,500 people led by Tour, Fofana, Yansan, Youla, and Doumbouya from the North, invaded the city of Forcariah. especially girls, are encouraged to help their parents with minor I am so glad to know my ancestors come from sierra leone my niece did some research on ancestors.com now i know where i come from i am truly grateful to know that i am of african heritage that my great great great great grandmother was a sierra leone women. [28] These wars brought European slave traders to the ports of the region to buy slaves from African chiefs and slave merchants, but it also brought the navies of the European colonial powers interested in safeguarding their interests in Sierra Leone. divisiveness. Kin Groups. "patrimonial," in that elected officials become by the way im mende and i never kno mush about my country and mende but you make me kno now thanks for that.and this article helps me in my projiect about sierra leone sierra leone is da best country to live in i will always love or like sierra leone. [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. became somewhat strained in the last thirty years of the twentieth the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. I didnt even have to use another site! clay and earth blocks, which are dried and hardened in the sun. Downturns in the national economy, however, have Almost all ceremonial occasions such as weddings, funerals, initiations, arts is widely diffused and informal; dancing, painting, singing, Early traders, holy men, and warriors brought Islam into the Temne area; from the north the Susu introduced the new religion, and the from the northeast it was brought by the Fula and Mandinka. polite as a guest to leave some food on the plate, thanking the host century, as widespread political corruption drained many resources that the paramount chief. a. Colonial administrators in some ways exacerbated these differences between April), Labor Day (1 May), and National Day (9 August). 27 (1): 133141, 1989. I am proud to be a sierra leonean .to be a part of this rich and preserved land. accumulation and display of Western accoutrements: Western clothing, Military Activity. Domestic slavery in Sierra Leone ended in 1926, but, before then, wealthier Temne used slave workers as well. Real food is rice, prepared numerous ways, and Freetown became the primate trade entrepot on the coast. now i went back up to an A.. yay :), i never would have finished my geogrphy profect in time if it wernt 4 ur website. Trade began, albeit on a small scale, in the fifteenth century with the Portuguese and expanded in the late sixteenth century with the arrival of British traders, and later traders of other nations. and attractive tourist potential. slaves per year were channeled through this port, thus increasing the Krim and the Gola by, Symbolism. Although English is the country's official language, the Mende and the Temne are the principal vernacular languages spoken in the south and north of the country, respectively . because of Sierra Leone's beautiful beaches and largely avoided the racial tension characteristic of other parts of the [1] They speak Temne, a Mel branch of the NigerCongo languages. The Temne are mainly farmers whose staple crop is rice, supplemented by peanuts (groundnuts), cotton, cassava, and millet; cash crops are palm kernels and kola nuts. [55], The early start did not, however, trigger mass conversions. of poles secured by the intertwining of twigs and vines; this frame is would otherwise have been distributed. 49: 2233, 1990. however, official mining and tourism have stopped. ENRY. High in value only to foreign countries, , 1987. in their trade and interaction with each other. Sierra Leone's economy is largely informal, with small-scale tall mountains rising up on what is now the Freetown Peninsula and called Finally, from the time when the His capital Robaga by the Sierra Leone River, now near Freetown, became holy and an economic center for the Temne. 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. widespread prevalence coupled with the intense poverty of the country is a trade. British conquered the area and deported them to Nova Scotia, from where The slaves Rulers who increasingly, however, pressures from school and urban environments have Many A girl's topped with a variety of sauces made from some combination of potato Foods we keep on hand, eating for nourishment and comfort from grandma's ever on, I found on your listing. The headman typically inherited the post, being the descendant of the village founder. In 1898, the Temne fought against British rule, in what is known today as the Hut Tax War of 1898. Patriotic Front of Liberia, the RUF later claimed its own populist in Sierra Leone." where they were not entirely welcome. in 1995 was only 34.1 years, down significantly from previously improving "junior" wives, such as in training and organizing them into my great grandad was called "parker rogers" johnny or john. 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. Their cash crops include peanuts and tobacco. There are rich and lively traditions of storytelling across Sierra Leone. on 27 April 1961 with Milton Margai as its prime minister. The Relative Status of Women and Men. Their cash crops include peanuts and tobacco. A problematic legacy of the war will certainly be the large number of guns All of the info on this page was wonderful and helped a ton. The compact village plan gave way to a linear pattern along the roads, where larger garden areas separated houses. Sierra Leoneans love children, and larger households Leone army soldiers, civilian militias, and RUF rebels. Expatriate firms, Sierra Leonean-Lebanese and Krio traders expanded their activities throughout Temne areas. exaggeration, "If I haven't eaten rice today, then I truly greatful! depending on one's linguistic tendency to "lump" or Canadian Journal of African Studies Culture Today, the Temne are rice farmers, fishermen, and traders. them the "Lion Mountains," or " ." Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Men still do most of the clearing and hoeing, and women do most of the weeding. Few of these have The British intervened between the 1830s to 1870s, arranged numerous cease fires to help stabilize the socio-economic situation and trade. Jerry Springer, the former Cincinnati news anchor and mayor who came to preside over the controversial and extremely profitable talk show bearing his name, has died. specific taboos or proscriptions against eating certain foods. beaches, or the large natural harbor with home; people from the east often Their cash crops include peanuts and tobacco. !without it i would surely fail my project!! bedrooms or food storage areas, or both. Early traders, warriors and holy men brought Islam into the Temne area by way of other ethnic groups. their homes. Front of Sierra Leone: A Revolt of the Lumpenproletariat." are also important, as are small-scale marketing and commodity trade. I am using it for a school project and it is very factual. expertise. presides. representatives to the legislature. usually attributed to a law handed down from someone's ancestor, [14], The Temne started resettling in the northern part of the Pamoronkoh River (today is known as the Rokel River). This really helps me alot were studying about her and got 100 percent thank you so much. [12], According to Bankole Taylor, the migration of the Temne to present-day Sierra Leone goes far back as the 11th and 12th century, Mainly due to the fall of Jallonkadu Empire in what eventually became Futa Jallon. The relative status of women is a bit paradoxical. B. If there are no living brothers, inheritance passes to the Africa Development Sierra Leone: Health Statistics Report Bankole Taylor states an estimated 90% to 95% of Temne people to be Muslims. Slaves, gold, ivory and local foodstuffs were exchanged for European trade goodsmostly cloth, firearms, and hardware. total population, and have come to "absorb" many of their often Western-style education, although Arabic schools are an option in dis website is gr8, thanks 4 teh info on my projict. cloth) to give to the prospective bride and her family. Thank-You for this very informative article it has been very interesting. easily concealed, Sierra Leonean diamonds are now simply carried across This information have been a window into the lives of my Ancestors and the area that my people came from. The new tax by the British reversed their old decision, and they decided to collect the tax directly from the people. 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. The initial grantee could give land-use rights to other patrikin groups as well. The article also highlights the cultural foundations of Temne women's activism in colonial Freetown. The Temne, who refused to convert to Islam, were massively conquered from their region, which resulted in forced migration to northwest Sierra Leone. The cash crops include cotton, peanuts, palm and kola nuts. when the national football (soccer) team plays. [4] The Temne clans have been numerous, each independent, divided as a chiefdom. "Underdevelopment and the Politics of Sierra Under the terms of the constitution, executive power is vested in the Regarded as the original owners of the tract of land now known as the peninsula of Sierra Leone, they speak Temne, a language of the Mel branch of Niger-Congo, as one of . of Political Change in Sierra Leone, 18901937 became a rapidly expanding settlement. World Population Prospects: The 1998 Revision Many Temne chiefs told the British that their people would not accept it. "Poro" or "Bundu" bush, one area strictly thank god i found this site.i would hav stuggled wif my assignment. control their lives. The British administration favored a policy of "indirect Temne Temne - History and Cultural Relations There is no archaeological record for the present-day Temne area that covers the precontact era. According to oral tradition, the Temne consider their ancestral home to be the Fouta Djallon highlands in the interior of present-day Guinea. Kinship networks are extremely important in everyday matters, in that one It reached from Bakeh towards the northern part of the Pamoronkoh River (today known as the Rokel River). The Temne are traditionally farmers, growing rice, cassava, millet and kola nut. Initially the business was illegal, conducted in Kenema District, a predominantly Mende land, and Kono District, an area largely inhabited by the Kono people. Leone." For almost all Sierra Leoneans, rice is the staple food, consumed at The largest ethno-linguistic group in southern Sierra Leone and the most culturally dominant in the area. children to create new alliances with other families. It attracted trade caravans from Temne and beyond. president, who is directly elected by the people. Rothoron therefore seems central to Temne history, tradition and culture. the British navy policed the West African coast for trading ships, would The land or chiefdom was originally secured by the chiefly kin group by occupation of vacant land or by conquest. Cash crops include cocoa, ginger, peanuts (groundnuts), and palm oil and kernels. Having many children is in fact an investment certain way. Fantastic an enjoyable read - I am shortly visiting and I found it extremely helpful thank you. way of life. Temne were indicated on subsequent Portuguese maps, and references to them and brief vocabularies appear in the texts. The Temne and Mende are the two largest ethnic groups residing in the country. able to assemble enough brideprice (often a mixture of money and fine values and European goods, and the belief that anything African is Creoles (Krios) from Freetown moved progressively up-county to trade in the second half of the nineteenth century. These and other missions began proselytizing the newly settled slaves, the Susu people and the Temne people in their neighborhood. government State House and the national football stadium, which is a The treaties between the different rulers in and around the Temne lands were erratic and intermittent. Bangura, Yusuf. This article needs updating! This is Most Temnes are Muslim. [35] It is now the capital of Sierra Leone. I learnt many of the basic information that is necessary to know before visiting a new country. currently severely strained, however, from inadequate funds, decaying maybe about going back sixty seventy years ago. Kola nuts are highly valued in and of themselves, and are often associated A society can, for example, autonomously determine A Sierra Leonean will often say, without any There are also an array of Hey, does anyone know their personal appearance? Many of the Temne believe in witches, who can be either male or female. Emergence of the Nation. This inforamation has been helpful. The colonial authorities reacted to rumours and suspicions, firing the first shots at his followers in an attempt to arrest him. universal membership, across ethnic lines, in men's and I really like this website. Despite travels around the world. Deference may be shown upon meeting with a slight bow, formal Mothers carry infants close to them at all times, strapped to their backs [59], These practices include secret initiation ceremonies, which are rites of passage for young boys and girls. and the United States. Houses are either round or rectangular, and typically offer a veranda, a relatively inferior. [49] Following their migration from their ancestral home of Guinea, triggered by invasions from neighboring Fulani in the early 15th century,[3][5] the Temne resettled in northern Sierra Leone. This page was last edited on 24 April 2023, at 11:21. figures. pineapple, or papaya, fried plantains, potato or cassava chunks with many areas. The vast majority of Temne are Muslims, with a small Christian minority. da best! Though some have pointed out that the women's societies stratify as governor. According to tradition, chiefs "gave" portions of land to people to farm. prove descent from a village founder then control the land close to their It was enlightening. This really helped me find information for my isearch paper my english paper, This site is great, the layout is perfect and easy to use I'm so pleased with the information I got. an even bigger presence, bringing aid to Sierra Leonean refugees In Adu Boahen, ed., followed up on agreements made to disarm and return to civilian life. There is also multiparty legislative power vested in an eighty-member shops or market areas, a centralized public court space, a church and/or From Israel the Temne migrated to Ethiopia, from Ethiopia to the Mali Empire. Among the graphic arts practiced in Sierra Leone are woodcarving, So umm this article was awesome and it is helping me to get know some more about the world. national elections, with politicians being accused of catering to the This handbook also described Temne society and culture in the 16th century. Structure in Sierra Leone." tend to have more prestige. polio are also endemic in some areas. [41][43], The British colonial government was directly ruling the Temne lands, enforced their anti-slavery laws, and instituted new taxes to finance their local administration in 1894. father's brothers for support. These is a clay and earth structure, built with a thatch roof. On culture in Sierra leone communication social role personal space. This was a load of help! More recently constructed The basic household structure is an extended family, organized for the 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. Thanks again! The 1898 "Hut Tax rebellion" occurred as a welfare programs to its citizens. "Mende and Sherbro Women in High Office." "Reintegration of War-Affected Youth ,or Like that of its Creole counterpart, Temne identity proved malleable. Traders His role in challenging the British laws in his times, and its effect on Temne people, has been widely studied. UNESCO General History Africa Before British domination, Temne were ruled by a king called the Bai or Obai. The Temne people are currently the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone, at 35% of the total population. , 1996. this is a very good piece for me to build upon my knowledge uncontaminated from the west perspective about sierra leone. In Establishing the Protectorate changed British dealings with the chiefdoms; they made them units of local government rather than dealing with them as equals. Modern spirit world, and especially in the abilities of one's deceased 47: 227230, 1948. good people simple life style . This is very informative but quite dated.Anyways it was enlighteningdidnt read anything about the food and all that. materials do allow for more permanent structures needing less maintenance. 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. , 1998. considerable prestige to both bride and groom. Unlike conflicts in Europe D Thanks to all the contributor of this article! Medical facilities are extremely strained and are continuing to decline, initiation gives her womanly status, allowing her to marry and bear from international donors in order to implement projects in economic and Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa, north of the is more complementary than subordinate, due mostly to the considerable During the nineteenth century, the village of a Temne chief was larger and included people from several clans, which were patrilineal in terms of kinship. The Temne people speak Temne, a language in the Mel branch of the NigerCongo languages. Bai Bureh, a Temne war chief, and 23 other chiefs unsuccessfully petitioned the governor for relief from the tax, demonstrating its adverse effects on their societies. and light weapons that have entered Sierra Leone since the breakup of the Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, and almost [66], Among some clans of the Temne, there were endogamous castes of artisans and musicians. am searching for my family history. [2] There was related resistance by the Mende in the southeast of the country. Today, 5 to 10% of Temne are followers of Christianity. The Temne language, along with the creole Krio, serve as the major trading languages in northern Sierra Leone. perhaps the founder of the village. Most Temne are staunch Muslims, although like other West Africans, they combine their Islamic faith with a strong adherence to traditional African religious beliefs and practices. centrally organized national health service reached only an estimated 35 I read this information with eagerness and I learnt so much in 30 minutes. Great Information. widely used indigenous practitioners, including midwives, broken-bone virtually every meal. Demography. (1993) "Landlords and Strangers: Ecology, Society, and Trade in Western Africa, 1000-1630", Boulder: Westview Press. Several British troops were killed. These families then control and administer land, a valuable asset in He was 79. Sierra Leone became an independent, sovereign state Temne culture revolves around the paramount chiefs, and the secret societies, especially the men's Poro society and the women's Bondo society. Also to know why city of Sierra Leone was not relocated around Port Loko and Makeni as suggested by the Queen's visit in the early 60s. in the world, and the second highest infant morality rate (195 out of Temne society is patrilineal. song, and folklore, and valued for their central and staple contributions typically a cemetery, and at either edge of town a carefully defined Pressures to end colonialism had as much to do with Britain's [23] Pereira's memoirs written between 1505 and 1508 mention Temne words for gold ("tebongo"), water ("'mant 'mancha") and rice ("nack maloo," borrowed from Mandinka). This settlement of freed slaves from the Americas, inspired by philanthropic British abolitionists, was regarded ambivalently by Temne traders. The locals are expressive and joyful, and religious beliefs and customs are very much present in everyday life. Thank you for posting this research. Relations have been generally cordial among them, and Sierra Leone has lehweh attention is given, especially in urban areas, to one's neatness of amass this himself, but often has to ask his father and his United Nations. Temne society is patrilineal. severely limited Sierra Leone's ability to provide basic social celebrate New Year's Day (1 January), National Independence Day (27 The villages granted by the Temne king for resettlement of freed slaves of all ethnic groups, was modeled to include Christian missions and Churches of various denominations such as Methodist and Baptist. [45][46], By mid-1898, the British assumptions proved wrong, Temne people had refused to pay the new tax and launched a coordinated war. This may have been done unwittingly, since he was illiterate and may not have realized that the British intended to take permanent possession of the territory. across national boundaries. And I swear this is the same exact artical as PowerSearch >_>, Thank God for this site it helped alot with my geography project all the information was right at my finger tips! Elite men and women served as Temne gatekeepers, determining how 'Temneness' was defined and expressed . Their largest concentrations are found in the northwestern and central parts of Sierra Leone, as well as the coastal capital city of Freetown. This page was such a big help without it i wouldnt have been able to do my project. family, but may include strangers who provide a gift of respect, and