Sierra Leone

The Block

Forty-seven tiny starbursts create a spiral design on an autumnally coloured backdrop. The pattern reflects the coiled bracelets and ringed neckwear often worn throughout the country. It was created by Mary Turay, using a technique––which still flourishes in Sierra Leone––known as tie-dyeing. Small seeds were tightly bound at intervals into gathered portions of material and the entire fabric was then immersed in a dye bath. Once the cloth dried, the tied areas––which were not affected by the dye––were undone, revealing the complex pattern.

Three corners of the block are embellished with a large cowrie shell lassoed by a strand of thick gold cording. The fourth displays three smaller shells enmeshed in a figure-eight of the gold border cord. Cowrie shells, once used as a form of currency throughout Africa, are now typically used as secular and sacred decoration. The gold cording is symbolic of both gold embroidered caps worn by Sierra Leone men and the rich gold fields found in the country.

Cultural Profile

Situated on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, Sierra Leone was named Serra Lyoa (‘lion mountains’) by the Portuguese after the mountains located there. Over time, the name evolved into the Spanish version, Sierra Leone. The nation’s capital, Freetown, is an area which became one of Britain’s first colonies in West Africa. It was established in 1792 by freed African slaves returning to their homeland from Great Britain and North American, including Nova Scotia. Some descendants of this migration are still known as ‘Nova Scotians.’

There are approximately 16 different ethnic groups living in Sierra Leone. The two main groups are the central and southern Mende, and the northern Temne. The population also contains Creoles or Krios (descendants of freed slaves from North America, the West Indies and other parts of Africa), Indians and Lebanese. Among the Mende, there are two main educational societies whose primary role is to teach individuals about community expectations: the Poro for men and the Sande, or Bondo, for women. Initiation into these societies transforms children into adults and provides the moral base for an ordered life. The official language of the country is English; however Krio (a mixture of several African languages and English) is spoken by most of the population.

The country is most famous for its dancing and The Sierra Leone Dance Troupe is internationally known. Each community has its own style of costume and dance, and certain closed societies have characteristic ceremonial dances. There are elements of symbolism in most of the dances, which are accompanied by drums, balaphones, a type of wooden xylophones, and various stringed instruments.

Sierra Leone is also known for the sowei, the wooden helmet-shaped masks associated with the Sande society. The masks, used during initiation rites, express both the beauty of women and their political and spiritual power. Traditionally carved by men, they are the only known African masking tradition worn exclusively by women. Textiles produced in Sierra Leone include the gara cloth, which can be produced with either tie-dyeing, or a batik techniques. After the lengthy process of dyeing, the cloth will sometimes be pounded with heavy wooden mallets, giving it a luster that will protect it from absorbing dirt. While various colours are now used, indigo is the traditional, most widespread pigment used in gara. Country cloth is also woven in Sierra Leone in long, narrow strips on primitive looms. These strips are then assembled to create wider cloth used to make household items or clothing. Other national crafts include raffia-decorated masquerade costumes, brightly coloured trade cloth robes, and stone carvings.

Sierra Leoneans immigrating to Canada brought with them a variety of skills and professional backgrounds. As have other Africans, they have made noticeable contributions to Canadian culture through their distinct, rich musical traditions, and their unique forms of artwork.

Sponsor: Irma R. Long