Kuranko people
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2020) |
Total population | |
---|---|
over 2 million [1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Guinea | 2,000,000[citation needed] |
Sierra Leone | 313,384[2] |
Languages | |
Kuranko, French, English, Krio | |
Religion | |
Predominately Islam | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Lele people, Mikhifore people, Susu people, Yalunka people, Mandinka people, other Mandé peoples |
The Kuranko, also called Koranko, Kolanko, Kooranko, Koronko, Kouranko, Kulanko, Kurako, Kuronko, Kuranké, or Karanko, and a group of elders.
The Koranko speak the Kuranko language (or Koranko), a dialect of the
The Kuranko occupy a mountainous region within the northeastern Sierra Leone
History
The Kuranko moved into the territory of present-day Sierra Leone from Mande in what is now Mali,after some leadership struggles in the Empire. The Kuranko's were the rulers and military leaders during the night of the empire. Due to the vastness of the empire, and their role in the military, they were deployed across East to West Africa. One of the most prominent military group led by warrior Mansa Kama, who lived approximately between 1650 and 1720. Was in charge of securing the west African trade route to the port in present day Freetown. [7] Mansa Kama founded Kamadugu, now contained within the Sengbe Chiefdom of Koinadugu District, as well as Kholifa, which is still a chiefdom to this day, and extended his rule across Sierra Leone, Foredugu to the port in Koya (Queen Elizabeth II Queue). [7] Kama travelled widely across the area with an Islamic alfa in the late 1600s, encountering numerous military battles on the way.[7] This included establishing the town of Kamadugu, which is named after him.[7] Eventually he settled in Rowala, which became the centre of the new Kuranko country, where he remained the leader until his death.[7]
Economy
The Kuranko are primarily a
Culture and customs
Men in the Kuranko culture undergo various initiation rituals on reaching puberty, becoming members of a secretive "club" when they do so.[9] The initiation consists of a circumcision, training sessions, and the right to wear certain articles of clothing.[9] Once initiated, men are free to marry, paying a bride price to the family of the chosen woman.[9] The Kuranko are polygamous, and some men have more than one wife.[9]
The Kuranko people also utilize practices of the Bondo secret society which aims at gradually but firmly establishing attitudes related to adulthood in girls, discussions on fertility, morality and proper sexual comportment. The society also maintains an interest in the well-being of its members throughout their lives.[10][11][12]
Religious and traditional beliefs
The Kuranko lands were one of the first areas of Sierra Leone to adopt Islam as its religion, and many Kuranko are nominally Muslim.[13] However, the region is very isolated, and many of the more formal aspects of the Islamic faith are not adhered to.[13] The people are also not politically Islamic, with the dichotomy between Catholic and Islamic African populations, not a major issue here.[13]
In place of formal Islam, the people continue to believe in many aspects of their ancient religion.[13]
The Kuranko believe that in the forests, the rivers, and the mountains live quasi-human beings known as Nyenne. These are "bush spirits," who are believed to influence Kuranko's life in different ways. Ancestral spirit and natural ecosystem forms the core of the Kuranko spiritual life[14]
Kuranko patronyms
- Marah
- Kaloko
- Thoronka
- Kargbo
- Koroma
Notable Kuranko people
- Mansa Kama, a great Kuranko warrior of northeast Sierra Leone
- Karefa Kargbo, Sierra Leonean politician
- Kaifala Marah,[15] former Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone
- Aminata Kamissoko, Guinean musician
- Augustus Kargbo, Sierra Leonean footballer
- Ibrahim Kargbo, Sierra Leonean footballer
- Kamso Mara, Guinean footballer
- Mamoudou Mara, Guinean footballer
- Mohamed Mara, Guinean footballer
- Fantacee Wiz, Sierra Leonean musician
- Bal Tamba, Sierra Leonean, King of Barawa Ferawa
- Kalma Kumba Samba, Sierra Leonean, warrior and Hunter
- Bolka Dan, Sierra Leonean,
References
- ^ "Guinea: A movement asks the state to create a Kouranko prefecture". Guinee7.com (in French). 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report" (PDF). Statistics Sierra Leone. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ISBN 0-226-89398-7(pbk.) Note:West references Jackson (1989).
- ^ "Kouranko (Peuple d'Afrique)". Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
- ^ ISBN 9780810865044.
- ISBN 978-9987-16-038-9.
- ^ a b c d e "Heroes". Sierra Leone Web. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ ISBN 9780521563536.
- ^ ISBN 9781490804538.
- ^ Pemunta, N. V., & Tabenyang, C.-J. (2017). Cultural power, ritual symbolism and human rights violations in Sierra Leone. Cogent Social Sciences, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1295549
- ^ Bjälkande, Owolabi, et al. Female Genital Mutilation in Sierra Leone: Who Are the Decision Makers? African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de La Santé Reproductive, vol. 16, no. 4, Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), 2012, pp. 119–31, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23485781.
- ^ "FMG in Sierra Leone" (PDF). 28TooMany, Registered Charity: No. 1150379. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- ^ ISBN 9780801457241.
- ISBN 9780415286046.
- ^ Fornah, Ibrahim Sorie. "Who should President Koroma Look for?". Retrieved 7 November 2016.