The West African country of Sierra Leone is one of the smallest on its continent. It is not represented in any way on the world political arena, and it does not have any impact on the global economy. And no wonder – this is a poor area, and the bulk of the population here is concerned around the clock with a much more pressing issue, just trying to survive.
Facts about Sierra Leone
- The capital of the country, the city of Freetown, grew out of a slave market. Later, after the liberation of the Caribbean colonies, its population was greatly replenished due to the repatriation of former slaves from Jamaica.
- The official language of Sierra Leone is English, but in practice almost no one speaks it.
- 90% of the country’s population consists of the 20 largest local tribes.
- Half the men and three-quarters of the women in Sierra -The Leones are not literate.
- In 1607, it was in this country that the first documented production of «Hamlet» Shakespeare. The performance was given for employees of the East India Company (facts about Shakespeare).
- The population of Sierra Leone is 8 million people.
- This country borders only two other states – Liberia and the Republic of Guinea.
- The subsoil of Sierra Leone is rich in minerals, including such valuable ones as diamonds and bauxite, but they are not being developed very actively.
- Local shores are continuous mangrove thickets, in some places going deep into the mainland for many kilometers.
- Outside the city limits, crocodiles are really dangerous here, and the villagers often become their victims (facts about crocodiles).
- A serious problem for the inhabitants of Sierra Leone is posed by malarial mosquitoes. The situation is especially aggravated by the fact that medicine is very tight here.
- More than half of the locals are Muslims, but about a third of the inhabitants still practice aboriginal cults. Every tenth inhabitant of this country is a Christian.
- In 2007, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair, was solemnly proclaimed the supreme leader of Sierra Leone. This honorary title was granted to him for his contribution to ending the civil war in these parts.
- The national cuisine of Sierra Leone does not include meat products.
- Two-thirds of the country’s population lives far beyond poverty line.
- Public transport here is represented mainly by minibuses, which are old minibuses or trucks.
- The Internet in Sierra Leone is very bad. It is available in several hotels in the capital, and several Internet cafes operate there. There is no access to the World Wide Web anywhere else.