Sierra+Leone+Culture

Sierra Leone Culture WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE LIKE IN SIERRA LEONE AND HOW DO THEY LIVE? Nationality: //Noun and adjective//--Sierra Leonean(s).
 * = History || Economics || Politics || Culture || Geography  || Activities  ||

Population (2009, United Nations): 5.7 million.

Annual population growth rate (2010 est.): 2.216%.

Ethnic groups (2008 census): 20 African ethnic groups--Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Creole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late 18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians).

Religious Beliefs: (est.) Muslim 60%, Christian 30%, animist 10%.

Languages: English, Krio, Temne, Mende, and 15 other indigenous languages.

Education (2004): //Literacy//--35.1%. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> NOTE: In the past, Sierra Leoneans were noted for their educational achievements, trading activity, entrepreneurial skills, and arts and crafts work, particularly woodcarving. Many are part of larger ethnic networks extending into several countries, which link West African states in the area. However, the level of education and infrastructure has declined sharply over the last 30 years.

<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 20px;">Health: //Life expectancy at birth// (2010 est.)--55.7 years. //Infant mortality rate//--80.16 deaths/1,000 live births. //HIV infection rate for// //adults, ages 15-49 years//(2007 est.)--1.7%.

<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 20px;">Work force: //Agriculture//--52.5%; //industry//--30.6%; //services//--16.9%.

<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Lucida Grande',Arial,Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">Information from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|U.S. Department of State]

<span style="color: #252525; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">Food: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 17px;"> For almost all Sierra Leoneans, rice is the staple food, consumed at virtually every meal. A Sierra Leonean will often say, without any exaggeration, “If I haven’t eaten rice today, then I haven’t eaten!” <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17px;">Along the street one can find snacks such as fresh mangoes, oranges, pineapple, or papaya, fried plantains, potato or cassava chunks with pepper sauce, small bags of popcorn or peanuts, bread, roasted corn, or skewers of grilled meat or shrimp. Sometimes villages, and sometimes families within villages, will have specific taboos or proscriptions against eating certain foods. These are usually attributed to a law handed down from someone’s ancestor, perhaps the founder of the village. The taboo can be a restriction against certain kind of meat or a certain oil, or even against food prepared a certain way. Violation is usually seen as a risky proposition, and can incur the ill feelings of would-be guardians either living or dead.

Rice is a staple food in Sierra Leone. This image of rice is from [|The Cook's Thesaurus]. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Societal Expectations/Gender Roles: Women are the backbone of Sierra Leonean labor. Men do the physically intense work of clearing fields and plowing swamps, but planting, harvesting, weeding, gathering wood, cooking, cleaning, marketing, and child care are duties often shouldered by women. Young children, especially girls, are encouraged to help their parents with minor household chores and farm work, and early in life take pride in their ability to contribute to the welfare of the household. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: 17px;">Marriage: For all Sierra Leoneans, marriage is a mark of adult maturity and brings considerable prestige to both bride and groom. Many households are polygynous, where a husband may have more than one wife; the first or “senior” wife usually has some authority over “junior” wives, such as in training and organizing them into a functional unit. Monogamy is also common, especially among urban and Christian families. Sierra Leoneans love children, and larger households tend to have more prestige. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Secular Celebrations: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 17px;">** Outside of the major Muslim and Christian holidays, Sierra Leoneans also celebrate New Year’s Day (1 January), National Independence Day (27 April), Labor Day (1 May), and National Day (9 August). ** The above information is from [|Sierra Leone]