Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 17,048 Sierra Leonean born (2001)[1] Ancestral Numbers Unknown | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London, Sheffield, Liverpool, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester and Bristol | |
| Languages | |
| Krio, English, Mende, Temne, Mandingo | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity · Sunni Islam · Atheism |
Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom are citizens or residents of the
Background
Sierra Leonean migration to the UK has a long history, with traders, chiefs, doctors and lawyers sending their children to be educated in Britain in increasing numbers from the mid-19th century.
Migration in the 17th century
Many British traders in the service of the Royal African Company went to Sierra Leone during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many had children with women from the Sherbro tribe and their descendants can be found in Sierra Leone today. Thus a number of Sierra Leoneans (particularly those from the Sherbro and Creole ethnic groups) can trace their ancestry back to British traders, colonial officials, and former slave traders.[citation needed]
Migration in the 20th century
There was a small Sierra Leonean population in the UK in the early part of the 20th century and Sierra Leoneans served in the
Migration in the 21st century
The UK Office of National Statistics recorded 23,000 Sierra Leoneans living in England and Wales in 2011.[6]
Diaspora organisations in the UK
Notable individuals
- Michelle Ackerley – Television presenter
- Alberta – Singer
- Paul Barber – Actor, known for playing Denzil in Only Fools and Horses
- Big Brother 9
- Chris Bart-Williams – Former professional footballer
- Tiana Benjamin — Actor in EastEnders
- Billy Boston – Former Welsh rugby player
- James Cleverly – Politician
- Carlton Cole – Professional footballer
- Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – British composer
- John Conteh – Former British boxer
- Curtis Davies – Professional footballer
- Lamin Deen - Bobsledder[7]
- The Dualers – Busking duo
- Idris Elba – Film actor
- Ryan Giggs – Professional footballer, holds most appearances for Manchester United
- Michael Harvey – Musician, former member of So Solid Crew
- Albert Jarrett – Professional footballer
- Len Johnson - Boxer of the 1920s and 1930s[8]
- Steve Kabba – Professional footballer
- Chris Kamara – Former professional footballer, currently a broadcaster
- Malvin Kamara – Professional footballer
- Sheku Kamara – Former professional footballer
- John Keister– Former professional footballer
- Amanda Mealing – Actor
- Nigel Reo-Coker – Professional footballer
- Leroy Rosenior – Former professional footballer
- Liam Rosenior – Professional footballer
- Isha Sesay – News anchor on CNN International
- Kadija Sesay – Literary activist, short story writer and poet
- Danny Wilson – Former Welsh rugby player
- Ib Kamara - Fashion journalist and stylist
- Keinan Davis
References
- ^ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
- ^ Debrunner, Hans Werner (1979). Presence and Prestige: Africans in Europe. Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien. p. 368.
- ^ "The Black Poor". Black Presence: Asian and Black History in Britain. National Archives. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
- ISBN 978-0-8020-7402-7. Originally published by Longman & Dalhousie University Press (1976).
- ^ ISBN 1-85856-292-9.
- ^ "Immigration Patterns of Non-UK Born Populations in England and Wales in 2011". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ Barnett, Marcus (24 July 2017). "In the Red Corner". Jacobin. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
