Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

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]

Former 149 chiefdoms of Sierra Leone, before 2017

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."^[3]

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.^[3]

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.^[1]

Pre-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Kailahun District Dea – Baiwala Jaluahun – Segbwema Jawei – Daru Kissi Kama – Dea Kissi Teng – Kangama Kissi Tongi – Buedu Luawa – Kailahun Malema – Jojoima Mandu – Mobai Peje Bongre – Manowa Peje West – Bunumbu Penguia – Sandar Upper Bambara – Pendembu Yawei – Bandajuma

Kenema District Dama – Giema Dodo – Dodo Gaura – Joru Gorama Mende – Tungie Kandu Leppiam – Gbado Koya – Baoma Langurama Ya – Baima Lower Bambara – Panguma Malehgohun – Sembehun Niawa – Sundumei Nomo – Faama Nongowa – Kenema Simbaru – Boajibu Small Bo – Blama Tunkia – Gorahun Wandor – Faala

Kono District Fiama – Njagbwema Gbane Kandor – Koardu Gbane – Ngandorhun Gbense – Yardu Gorama Kono – Kangama Kamara – Tombodu Lei – Siama Mafindor – Kamiendor Nimikoro – Njaiama Nimiyama – Sewafe Sandor – Kayima Soa – Kainkordu Tankoro – New Sembehun Toli – Kondewakor

Northern Province

Bombali District Biriwa – Kamabai Bombali Shebora – Makeni Gbanti Kamaranka – Kamaranka Gbendembu Ngowahun – Kalangba Libeisaygahun – Batkanu Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa Makari Gbanti – Masongbon Paki Massabong – Mapaki Safroko Limba – Binkolo Sanda Loko – Kamalo Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi Sella Limba – Kamakwie Tambakha – Fintonia

Koinadugu District Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia Diang – Kondembaia Folasaba – Musaia Kasunko – Fadugu Mongo – Bendugu Neya – Krubola Nieni – Yiffin Sengbe – Yogomaia Sulima – Falaba Wara-Wara Bafodia – Bafodea Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

Tonkolili District Gbonkolenken – Yele Kafe Simiria – Mabonto Kalanthuba – Kamankay Dansogoia - Bumbuna Kholifa Mabang - Mabang Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka Kunike – Masingbi Kunike Barina – Makali Malal Mara – Rochin Sambaia – Bendugu Tane – Matotoka Yoni – Yonibana

North Western Province

Kambia District Brimaia – Kukuna Gbinle Dixing – Tawuya Magbema – Kambia Mambolo – Mambolo Masungbala – Kawula Samu – Kychum Tonko Limba – Madina

Port Loko District Bureh – Mange Buya Romende – Foredugu Debia – Gbinti Kaffu Bullom – Mahera Kasseh – Mahera Koya – Songo Loko Masama – Petifu Maconteh – Unknown Maforki – Port Loko Marampa – Lunsar Masimera – Masimera Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu T.M. Safroko – Miraykulay

Southern Province

Bo District Badjia – Ngelehun Bagbo – Jimmi Bagbwe – Ngarlu Baoma – Baoma Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe Gbo – Gbo Jaiama Bongor – Telu Kakua – Bo town Komboya – Njala Lugbu – Sumbuya Niawa Lenga – Nengbema Selenga – Dambala Tikonko – Tikonko Valunia – Mongere Wonde – Gboyama

Bonthe District Bendu – Cha Bendu Bum – Madina Dema – Tissana Imperri – Gbangbama Jong – Mattru Kpanda – Kemo Motuo Kwamebai Krim – Benduma Nongoba Bullom – Gbap Sittia – Yonni Sogbini – Tihun Yawbeko – Talia

Moyamba District Bagruwa – Sembehun Bumpe – Rotifunk Dasse – Mano Fakunya – Gandohun Kagboro – Shenge Kaiyamba – Moyamba Kamajei – Senehun Kongbora – Bauya Kori – Taiama Kowa – Njama Lower Banta – Gbangbatoke Ribbi – Bradford Timdale – Bomotoke Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District Barri – Potoru Gallines Perri – Blama Kpaka – Masam Kpanga Kabonde – Pujehun town Makpele – Zimmi Malen – Sahn Mano Sa Krim – Gbonjema Kpanga Krim – Gobaru Peje – Futta Sorogbema – Fairo Sowa – Bandajuma Yakemo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu

Post-2017 Chiefdoms

Eastern Province

Kailahun District Dea – Baiwala Jahn[a] – ? Jaluahun – Segbwema Jawei – Daru Kissi Kama – Dea Kissi Teng – Kangama Kissi Tongi – Buedu Luawa – Kailahun Malema – Jojoima Mandu – Mobai Peje Bongre – Manowa Peje West – Bunumbu Penguia – Sandar Upper Bambara – Pendembu Yawei – Bandajuma Notes Formerly part of Jaluahun Chiefdom.

Kenema District Dama – Giema Dodo – Dodo Gaura – Joru Gorama Mende – Tungie Kandu Leppiam – Gbado Koya – Baoma Langurama Ya – Baima Lower Bambara – Panguma Malegohun – Sembehun Niawa – Sundumei Nomo – Faama Nongowa – ? Simbaru – Boajibu Small Bo – Blama Tunkia – Gorahun Wando – Faala Kenema City[a] – Kenema Notes Formerly part of Nongowa Chiefdom.

Kono District Fiama – Njagbwema Gbane Kandor – Koardu Gbane – Ngandorhun Gbense – Yardu Gorama Kono – Kangama Kamara – Tombodu Lei – Siama Mafindor – Kamiendor Nimikoro – Njaiama Nimiyama – Sewafe Sandor – Kayima Soa – Kainkordu Tankoro – Bayama Tankoo Toli – Kondewakor Koidu Town[a] – Koidu Notes Formerly part of Gbense Chiefdom.

Northern Province

Bombali District Biriwa – Kamabai Bombali Shebora – ? Bombali Siari[a] – ? Gbanti[b] – ? Gbendembu[c] – ? Kamaranka[d] – Kamaranka Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa Makari[b] – Masongbon Mara[e] – ? Ngowahun[c] – Kalangba Paki Massabong – Mapaki Safroko Limba – Binkolo Makeni City[a] – Makeni Notes Formerly part of Bombali Shebora Chiefdom. Formerly part of Makari Gbanti Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom; split off, with Gbanti Chiefdom moving to Karene District. Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom; moved from Tonkolili District.

Falaba District Delemandugu[a] – ? Dembelia[b] – Musaia Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia Folasaba – ? Kamadu Yiraia[c] – ? Kebelia[d] – ? Kulor Saradu[e] – ? Mongo – Bendugu Morfindugu[a] – ? Neya – Krubola Nyedu[e] – ? Sulima – Falaba Wollay Barawa[f] – ? Notes Formerly part of Mongo Chiefdom. Formerly part of Folasaba Chiefdom. Formerly part of Sengbe Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off. Formerly part of Sulima Chiefdom. Formerly part of Neya Chiefdom. Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom from Koinadugu District before splitting off.

Koinadugu District Diang – Kondembaia Gbonkobon Kayaka[a] – ? Kalian[b] – ? Kamukeh[c]' – ? Kasunko KaKellian – ? Nieni[d] – Yiffin Sengbe[e] – Yogomaia Tamiso[a] – Fadugu Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria Notes Formerly part of Kasunko Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom. Formerly part of Wara-Wara Bafodea Chiefdom. Lost area to Wollay Barawa Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District. Lost area to Kamadu Yirala Chiefdom; which moved to Falaba District.

Tonkolili District Dansogoia[a] – Bumbuna Gbonkolenken Masankong – Yele Kafe[b] – ? Kalanthuba[a] – ? Kholifa Mabang – Mabang Kholifa Mamuntha Mayosso[c] – ? Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka Kunike Barina – Makali Kunike Folawusu[d] – ? Kunike Sanda – Masingbi Malal[e] – Rochin Mayeppoh[f] – ? Poli[f] – ? Sambaia – Bendugu Simiria[b] – Mabonto Tane – Matotoka Yele[f] – ? Yoni Mabanta[g] – ? Yoni Mamaila[g] – Yonibana Notes Formerly part of Kalansongoia Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Nieni Chiefdom. Formerly part of Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom. Formerly part of Kunike Sanda Chiefdom. Formerly part of Malal Mara Chiefdom before losing the Mara section. Formerly part of Gbonkolenken Chiefdom Formerly part of Yoni Chiefdom; split off.

North Western Province

Kambia District Briama – Kukuna Dixing[a] – Mafaray Gbinle[a] – Tawuya Khonimakha[b] – Kabaya Magbema – Kambia Mambolo – Mambolo Masungbala – Kawula Munu Thala[c] – Thala Samu – Kychum Tonko Limba – Madina Notes Formerly part of Gbinle Dixing Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Briama Chiefdom. Formerly part of Masungbala Chiefdom.

Karene District Buya[a] – ? Debia – Gbinti Gbanti[b] – ? Libeisaygahun-Gbombahun – Batkanu Mafonda Makerembay[c] – ? Romende[a] – Foredugu Safroko[d] – ? Sanda Loko – Kamalo Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi Sella Limba – Kamakwie Tambakha Simibungie[e] – ? Tambakha Yobangie[e] – Fintonia Notes Formerly part of Buya Romende Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdom from Bombali District before splitting off. Formerly part of Libeisaygahun-Gbombahun Chiefdom. Formerly part of Debia Chiefdom. Formerly part of Tambakha Chiefdom; split off.

Port Loko District Bakeh Loko[a] – ? Bureh[b] – Mange Kaffu Bullom – Mahera Kamasondo[c] – ? Kaseh[b] – ? Koya – Songo Loko Massama – Petifu Maconteh[b] – ? Maforki – ? Makama[d] – Miraykulay Marampa – Lunsar Masimera – Masimera Tinkatopa[d] – ? Port Loko City[a] – Port Loko Notes Formerly part of Maforki Chiefdom. Formerly part of Bureh Kaseh Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Loko Massama Chiefdom. Formerly part of T.M. Safroko Chiefdom; split off.

Southern Province

Bo District Badjia – Ngelehun Bagbo – Jimmi Bagbwe – Ngarlu Baoma – Baoma Bongor[a] – Telu Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe Gbo – Gbo Jaiama[a] – ? Kakua – Kakua Komboya – Njala Lugbu – Sumbuya Niawa Lenga – Nengbema Selenga – Dambala Tikonko – Tikonko Valunia – Mongere Wonde – Gboyama Bo City[b] – Bo Notes Formerly part of Jaiama Bongor Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Kakua Chiefdom.

Bonthe District Bendu – Cha Bendu Bum – Madina Dema – Tissana Imperri – Gbangbama Jong – Mattru Kpanda Kemo – Kemo Motuo Kwamebai Krim – Benduma Nongoba Bullom – Gbap Sittia – Yonni Sogbini – Tihun Yawbeko – Talia Bonthe Urban[a] – Bonthe Notes Formerly part of Sittia Chiefdom.

Moyamba District Bagruwa – Sembehun Bumpe – Rotifunk Dasse – Mano Fakunya – Gandohun Kagboro – Shenge Kaiyamba – Moyamba Kamajei – Senehun Kongbora – Bauya Kori – Taiama Kowa – Njama Lower Banta – Gbangbatoke Ribbi – Bradford Timdale – Bomotoke Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District Barri – Potoru Gallines[a] – ? Kagonde[b] – ? Kpaka – Masam Kpanga[b] – Pujehun Makpele – Zimmi Malen – Sahn Mano Sakrim – Gbonjema Panga Krim – Gobaru Peje – Futta Perri[a] – Blama Soro Gbema – Fairo Sowa – Bandajuma Yekomo Kpukumu – Karlu Notes Formerly part of Gallines Perri Chiefdom; split off. Formerly part of Kpanga Kagonde Chiefdom; split off.

See also

• Administrative divisions of Sierra Leone

References

1. "Sierra Leone unveils new geographical map". Africa Review. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
2. Tristan Reed and James A. Robinson, The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone, Scholar, Harvard University, 15 July 2013, Document available online, accessed 30 April 2014
3. Daron Acemoglu, Tristan Reed. and James A. Robinson. "Chiefs: Economic Development and Elite Control of Civil Society in Sierra Leone" Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, Stanford University, 29 August 2013, accessed 30 April 2014
4. Acemoglu et al. (2013), "Chiefs: Economic Development", p. 4

External links

• Sierra Leone.org