Mid-15th Century:
- Portuguese explorers, including Pedro da Sintra, arrive on the “Upper Guinea Coast,” naming the area Serra Lyoa after its mountains.
- The Portuguese establish trading posts and engage in trade for slaves, ivory, and gold.
- Cultural exchange and intermarriage between Portuguese traders and natives leads to a significant Afro-Portuguese community.
Early to Mid-17th Century:
- The British arrive and begin establishing a presence alongside the Portuguese.
- Both British and Portuguese engage in the slave trade.
- “Mulattoes” or mixed-race individuals gain power within the existing social structure.
Late 18th Century (1770s-1790s):
- 1771: Henry Smeathman, a British abolitionist, proposes a free settlement for freed slaves in Sierra Leone.
- 1787: Granville Sharp, another philanthropist, establishes the “Province of Freedom” in Sierra Leone, settling freed slaves from London.
- 1787: Captain Thompson purchases land from local Temne chief King Tom for the settlement, which becomes Granville Town (part of modern-day Freetown).
- 1792: Over 1,100 “Nova Scotians” arrive in Sierra Leone. John Clarkson of the Royal Navy becomes the first Governor.
- September 1794: The French destroy Freetown. Survivors rebuild the settlement.
Early 19th Century (1800-1820s):
- 1800: 550 “Maroons” originally destined for the Banana Islands are settled in Sierra Leone to quell a local rebellion.
- 1807: Britain officially abolishes the slave trade.
- 1808-1864: Large numbers of “Liberated Africans” or “Recaptives” are brought to Freetown by the British Navy after being freed from slave ships. These recaptives come from a wide variety of regions and ethnicities.
- 1820s: A significant influx of Yoruba people begins, likely due to the Yoruba Wars.
Late 19th Century:
- Sierra Leone continues to grow, with Freetown becoming a significant trading center.
- The Krio language and culture develop as the diverse communities in Sierra Leone interact and blend.
20th Century:
- 1961: Sierra Leone gains independence.
Cast of Characters
- Pedro da Sintra: Portuguese explorer who landed on the “Upper Guinea Coast” in the mid-15th century, naming the area Serra Lyoa.
- Henry Smeathman: British abolitionist who proposed a free settlement for freed slaves in Sierra Leone in 1771. Died before seeing his vision realised.
- Granville Sharp: British philanthropist and abolitionist who founded the “Province of Freedom” in Sierra Leone in 1787.
- Captain Thompson: British individual who purchased land from the Temne chief King Tom for the “Province of Freedom” settlement.
- King Tom: Temne chief who sold land to Captain Thompson for the settlement that became Granville Town (part of modern-day Freetown).
- John Clarkson: Officer in the British Royal Navy who became the first Governor of Sierra Leone in 1792.
Groups:
- Portuguese Traders: Individuals involved in establishing early trade relations and communities in Sierra Leone. They contributed to the growth of the Afro-Portuguese community through intermarriage and cultural exchange.
- British Traders and Pirates: Later arrivals who also contributed to the multi-ethnic makeup of early Sierra Leone. They were also involved in the slave trade.
- “Mulattoes”: Mixed-race individuals who emerged from relationships between Europeans and native populations. They held a significant amount of power within the social structure.
- Freed Slaves from London: Initial group brought by Granville Sharp to establish the “Province of Freedom” in 1787.
- “Nova Scotians”: Group of formerly enslaved people who settled in Sierra Leone in 1791 and 1792 after facing discrimination in Nova Scotia, Canada.
- “Liberated Africans” or “Recaptives”: Africans rescued from slave ships by the British Navy and settled in Freetown from 1808 to 1864. They represented a diverse group of ethnicities and origins, contributing significantly to the development of Krio culture.
- Yoruba People: West African ethnic group who began settling in Sierra Leone in larger numbers in the 1820s, likely driven by the Yoruba Wars. They played a major role in the development of the Krio culture and language.