By Emma Black
Biriwa Limba Chiefdom, located in Bombali District, Sierra Leone, is home to approximately 41,000 people, with the Limba forming the majority and around 3,000 Mandingoes, some of whom align politically with the SLPP, the Limba, known for their rich cultural heritage centered on farming and palm wine tapping, have coexisted peacefully with neighboring Mandingo, Fullah, Temne, and Loko communities. However, tensions have arisen due to actions by a group of Mandingo Sheriffs from Karina, whose Kamarainba attitude has led to perceptions of condescension toward their Limba hosts, who have welcomed them for nearly a century.
The Mandingo Sheriffs, enriched by diamond mining in Kono, Tongor, and Sefadu, have historically employed Limba youths and accumulated wealth, fostering a sense of pride that fueled their ambition to control the chieftaincy in Biriwa. They strategically paid for floating taxpayers to secure more Tribal Authorities, thereby gaining influence in chieftaincy elections. The Limba, often unable to afford taxes and sometimes hiding to avoid payment, struggled to match this influence, over time, however, educational advancements and diaspora support enabled many Limbas to pay taxes and build concrete homes in Kamabai, Buban, and surrounding villages, strengthening their position.
Since 1952, the Mandingo Sheriffs have leveraged political connections to pursue chieftaincy roles, despite cultural norms prioritizing paternal lineage for eligibility. In 2006, former President Tejan Kabba, a Mandingo, controversially appointed Nonko Sherff as chief, prompting a legal challenge. The court ruled in November 2006 that the Sheriffs, lacking evidence of belonging to the ruling family, were ineligible to contest. Despite this, they persistently fielded candidates during chieftaincy rotations, misrepresenting a 2007 court-enforced decision as the dethronement of their chief.
Following the SLPP’s return to power in 2018, the Mandingo Sheriffs proposed dividing Biriwa Limba Chiefdom along ethnic lines, a move unprecedented in Sierra Leone’s local governance history, as the chiefdom has never been amalgamated. With only 23 of over 268 villages predominantly Mandingo often isolated and surrounded by Limba-owned land this proposal lacks practical grounding. A town hall meeting revealed strong local opposition to division, emphasizing Biriwa’s overall peacefulness.
The Sheriffs have cited isolated incidents to exaggerate insecurity. In 2019, Mandingo groups attacked Mayomgbo, burning houses and committing rapes, with perpetrators prosecuted and imprisoned. Similar violence occurred in Kamasama, where a landowner was killed for refusing to allow tree planting, and at Kamakaintheyeh, where Mandingoes burned a Limba village. While a counterclaim of Limba arson in Fodasoriya remains unproven, these incidents do not justify division, the biblical analogy of King Solomon’s judgment (1 Kings 3:16-28) underscores the folly of splitting a cohesive chiefdom, urging leaders to seek wisdom before acting.
The Mandingo Sheriffs, particularly through figures like Kef Dukulay, have leveled accusations against the Limba, including claims of acrimony, secret society coercion, physical attacks, chieftaincy monopolization, suppression of non-Limba ruling houses, tax riots, rape, and arson, these claims are largely unfounded:
The Limba maintain peaceful relations with Mandingoes, with only the Karina Sheriffs pushing for chieftaincy control. Mandingoes in Balandugu and other villages express gratitude to their Limba hosts.
Two of three local court chairmen are Mandingo, and one is Fullah, while two of three councillors are Fullah, demonstrating inclusivity.
Fullahs, Lokos, and Temnes conduct business in Biriwa without facing attacks, unlike the documented Mandingo-led violence.
No Mandingo has been coerced into joining Limba cultural practices like the Bondo or Gbangbani societies, and rape, a taboo among Limbas, has not been substantiated against them in court.
The secondary school in Kamabai provides a safe, inclusive environment for Mandingo children from various villages, with no reported attacks.
Kamasikie’s weekly market, rated among the district’s best, fosters peaceful trade among diverse ethnic groups, the Limba have consistently embraced intermarriages with other groups, including Mandingoes.
A Mandingo, Amadu Ngari Mansaray from Balandugu, served as Regent Chief for over three years, demonstrating the chiefdom’s openness. However, the Karina Sheriffs’ persistent chieftaincy pursuits raise questions about their willingness to relinquish power. The call for division, driven by a minority’s ambitions, threatens the chiefdom’s unity and sets a dangerous precedent.
Biriwa Limba chiefdom exemplifies synergy, not the instability claimed by the Karina Sheriffs. Their accusations are misleading, and their push for division lacks merit. Leaders must prioritize unity and reject ethnic-based fragmentation, ensuring Biriwa remains a model of peaceful coexistence.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,25th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
