Sierra Leone By: Siena Cornacchini, Emily Nour, and Drew Bowling

Location West side of Africa, next to the Atlantic Ocean Between 7 and 10 degrees N, and 10.5 and 13 degrees W Capital-Freetown, located in western Sierra Leone

Religion  60% Muslim, 30% Indigenous African Religion, and 10% Christian  The government allows freedom of religion and does not tolerate the abuse of that right.  Mosques and churches are spread out all over Sierra Leone. Members of the Indigenous African Religion often pray under a tree or in a forest.

Money The currency is the Leone, and one US dollar is equal to Leones. The value of the Leone has gone down over the past year. The value is not very stable because of the 10-year civil war. Front Back

Government It is a democracy The president is Ernest Bai Koroma, and the vice president is Samuel Sam- Sumana In 1990, a ten-year civil war broke out due to government corruption and arguments of possession of diamond resources

Languages The official language is Krio, the native language of the Creole Other languages include English, Themne, Susu, and Vai. English WordKrio Word helloKusheh friendPady goodbyeA de go GirlTiti BoyBobo ChildPickin MotherMama FatherPapa Walkwakka Many, very muchbohku

Traditions/Customs There are no dowries in Sierra Leone-the groom must always pay brideprice. Every evening, after the children finish their chores, it is a common habit to sit down and listen to someone tell a story. A common way to celebrate New Year’s is to climb up a mountain, and then kill one of your livestock to eat. Sierra Leone celebrates Islamic, Christian, and National Holidays, including Christmas, New Year’s, Independence Day (April 27), Eid- Ul-Fitri, Moulid Ul Nabi, and Eid-Ul-Adah

Food The basic diet of Sierra Leone is rice. It is eaten at every meal. Western foods are almost unheard of in rural areas but they are becoming increasingly more popular in areas like Freetown. Most of the food is sold in stalls Whatever is bought must be eaten quickly because there is no electricity to preserve the food in many parts of Sierra Leone.

Clothing Most Sierra Leoneans wear garas, a traditional tie-dye cloth. There are a lot of shorts and other cotton clothing. Some is similar to clothing we have here.

The Arts o The main styles of music in Sierra Leone are Palm Wine, Gumbe, and Afropop. o The war has caused a decrease in traditional Sierra Leonean artists. o Sierra Leone is well known for its dance groups and ivory carvings.

SOURCES Education in Sierra Leone. 12 January Free The Children Program. 20 February Visiting Sierra Leone. 27 June Otolo Web Solutions. 18 February Customs of Sierra Leone. 19 April Yellow Pages. 23 February Culture of Sierra Leone. 4 February Advameg Incorporated. 20 February Traveler’s Diarrhea. 7 February Wikimedia Foundation. 17 February Sierra Leone. 23 February Wikimedia Foundation. 16 February

Sources Cont. Education in Sierra Leone. 17 November Wikimedia Foundation. 18 February Bunce Island. 27 June Otolo Web Solutions. 18 February Animal Info – Sierra Leone. 19 February Animal Information. 18 February "Sierra Leone." Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 23 February Gordon, Raymond G. “Languages of Sierra Leone.” Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition Freetown. 23 February Wikimedia Foundation. 18 February 2009.