Our History
Preserving the Creole Culture
Our History
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KRIO PEOPLE
The Sierra Leone Creole people (or Krio people) are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone. We are the descendants of freed African American, West Indian and Liberated African slaves who settled in the Western Area of Sierra Leone between 1787 and about 1885. The colony was established by the British, supported by abolitionists, under the Sierra Leone Company as a place for freedmen. The settlers called their new settlement Freetown. Today, the Krio comprise about 4% of the population of Sierra Leone.
Like our Americo-Liberian neighbors in Liberia, Krio have varying degrees of European ancestry because some of the settlers were descended from European Americans and other Europeans.
Through the Jamaican Maroons some Krio probably also have indigenous Jamaican ancestry. Alongside the Americo-Liberians, the Creoles are the only recognized ethnic group of African-American, Liberated African, and West Indian descent in West Africa. As with our Americo-Liberian neighbors, Creole culture is primarily westernized. The Krios developed close relationships with the British colonial power; they became educated in British institutions and held prominent leadership positions in Sierra Leone under British colonialism.
The vast majority of Creoles reside in Freetown and its surrounding Western Area region of Sierra Leone. The only Sierra Leonean ethnic group whose culture is similar (in terms of its integration of Western culture) are the Sherbro. From their mix of peoples, the Creoles developed what is now the native Krio language (a mixture of English, indigenous West African languages, and other European languages).
It has been widely used for trade and communication among ethnic groups and is the most widely spoken language in Sierra Leone.
The Creoles are primarily Christian, but some scholars consider the Oku community of Sierra Leone as ‘Creoles’. The Oku or Oku Mohammedans are known as Oku or Frobe (Fourah Bay) Krio and are the descendants of liberated Muslim Africans, who were mostly Yoruba from what is today Southwest Nigeria who settled in Freetown in the mid-19th century. Because the Creoles are a mixture of various ethnic groups and the Oku are mainly of Yoruba descent, some scholars do not classify the Oku as Creoles.
Due to our history, the vast majority of Creoles have European first names and surnames. Many have both English first names and last names. Most of the Oku Muslims have Islamic first names, some of them have English surnames. From their mix of peoples, the Creoles developed what is now the native Krio language (a mixture of English, indigenous West African languages, and other European languages).
With Your Help, We are Connecting Creoles in The Diaspora and Sierra Leone
We are connecting the younger generation with the older generation in the diaspora and Sierra Leone so that we do not loose our culture and heritage.
Creole Connections
Our Mission
To nuture a meaningful life for the needy financially as well as culturally in the Diaspora, Western area of Freetown and the Peninsula
Our Values
Caring
Integrity
Honesty
Respectful
A Letter from the President
Dear Members, Friends, and Creole People:
On behalf of the Creole Descendant Association Washington Metropolitan Chapter, we would like to take this opportunity to introduce our none profit organization (501c3) of Creole peoples of creole descent in Sierra Leone.
Our organization was founded in 1982 by an ingenious group of Sierra Leoneans, formally as Rokel River Organization, the first of which was established in the Washington DMV covering Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
We are encouraging youths to join us and help build an engaging organization, by showing interest, participating, and committing their efforts to achieve our purpose; so that the creole culture is regenerated and sustained in partnership and team equity paradigm.
Equally, we are also appealing to the older generation to get involved and share your wisdom with this organization by taking nurturing roles as mentors to mentor the younger generation.
Together as a family, the Creole People, will strive to revitalize our tradition for future generations.
Once more, we appeal to everyone to get involved and support our organization so that we can sustain a stronger foundation which is slowly being degenerated amongst the Creole People.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. William Bultman
President
Le We Cam Togeda En Ep Wisef
