Cotton Tree becomes a cultural centre

Freetown's giant cotton tree, national symbol of Sierra Leone and a landmark in the capital, is also the address of the National Museum which tells the story of the history and culture of the country - particularly the influence of the formidable Mandinka warrior kings.

The story goes that the tree started life as a young sapling when settlers came to Freetown in 1787. Amongst the most interesting exhibits in the museum is a copy of the De Ruyter stone which, in 1948, was proclaimed one of Freetown.s oldest monuments.

It is buried six inches under the ground just above the high water level at Jimmy market place. This was the spring known to all mariners as on of the best watering places of the west coast of Africa and is inscribed with the names of famous sailors. It has been uncovered and buried many times to protect it from vandalism until funds can be raised for a proper building to protect it.

The language
Althought English is the official language in Sierra Leone,each ethnic group in the interior has its own language named after the tribe; Mende, Temne, Limba, Sousou, Kono.

Lingua Franca which is a mix of French, English, Portuguese and some of the African languages, and Krio which is a mix of pigeon English with French infuences from Guinea, enable valuable links between different ethnic groups and visitors.

Masks and crafts
Portuguese traders first bought worked ivory, bone and wooden statues from native craftsmen over 500 years ago. The female bandu mask is specific to Sierra Leone - carved with a high and ornate hairstyle and often with a ringed neck.

Music and dance
There is also a Sierra Leone national dance performed at ceremonies like the Limba Gbangani, the Mende Wunde and the Temne Rabai. The Sierra Leone National Ballet sometimes perform versions of the dance for visitors accompanied by sangbori, poro or bundu drums along with other instruments like the balangi (xylophone), the kora, fifaru and sangbei.

Village life - some things change others stay the same
In rural areas people live in round or square earth and bamboo huts with different designs from chiefdom to chiefdom like the Limba village pictured left. Since the war new huts, often made of modern brick with corrugated tin rooves are appearing in increasing numbers (right). But the way of life continues whereby the whole family lives in one hut and the village chief acts as judge and healer.