Kissi people
Encyclopedia
Kissi people is an ethnic group
living in Guinea
, Sierra Leone
and Liberia
. They speak the Kissi language
, which is a Niger–Congo language. They are well known for making baskets and weaving on vertical looms.
areas. Other crops include peanuts, cotton, corn, bananas, potatoes, and melons. Beans, tomatoes, onions, and peppers are grown in small vegetable gardens, and coffee is raised as a cash crop. Most of the farmers also raise some livestock.
Agricultural work, such as sowing, weeding, and harvesting, is shared equally by the men and women. Additional responsibilities for the men include hunting
, fishing
, and clearing land. The women's duties involve caring for the small vegetable gardens, tending to the chickens, trading in the local markets, and doing some fishing. Boys tend to the livestock, which are usually cattle and goats. Cows are considered very valuable animals, not for their milk, but as religious sacrifices.
and the elderly people. The Kissi live in small, self-governing villages that are tucked inside groves of mango or kola trees. Each village is compact, containing no more than about 150 people. Houses are usually raised slightly above the ground and are round with mud walls, cone-shaped thatch roofs, verandahs. In the center of the village is a public square with a dwelling place for the village headman. He offers sacrifices at the village shrine and acts as judge over the community.
To the Kissi, a child is not considered "complete" and is thought of as dirty and impure. Therefore, when a boy or girl reaches puberty
, a purification
ritual is held. This ceremony, called a biriye, "cleanses" the child and ushers him into adulthood. Afterwards, the boy or girl is expected to take on adult responsibilities.
Music plays a unique role in the Kissi culture. Sometimes, it is used for certain types of communication. The music does not necessarily have a melody, but rather a rhythmic sound with much drumming and whistling.
, most of them continue to practice their traditional ethnic religion. Ancestor worship or praying to deceased relatives is a common practice among the Kissi. The Kissi believe that ancestral spirits act as mediators between them and the creator god. Small stone statues are used to represent the spirits. They are worshipped and offered sacrifices by the village headmen.
The Kissi constantly live in fear of the supernatural
. They wear charms in order to protect themselves from the evil spirits. Witchcraft
is also practiced by sorcerers and witches. Some of the elders and religious leaders communicate with spirits through trances and hypnosis. The biriye and other rituals are held in the forest, since this is thought to be a sacred setting.
An interesting corruption of the name Kissi linked Christmas Mass to it to become Kissy Mess Mess, a neighbourhood of Freetown, SL.
Michael Fayia Kallon first active Kissi writer living in New York City/USA. His website is: www.makonabooks.com
Tamba Egbinda Juana - Politician
Sia Amma is from the Kissi people of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. She is a stand-up comedian, writer, performer, singer, community activist and founder of Global Women Intact. www.globalwomenintact.org
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
living in Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. They speak the Kissi language
Kissi language
Kissi is a language split into two parts, northern and southern. The northern dialect is spoken in Guinea and in Sierra Leone. In its northern form, it often uses loanwords from the Malinke and the Mende language....
, which is a Niger–Congo language. They are well known for making baskets and weaving on vertical looms.
Economy
The Kissi are primarily farmers. Rice, their staple crop, is grown on most hillsides and in low, swampySwampy
Daniel Hooper is an environmental activist, sometimes characterised as an environmental protester or eco-warrior, from the United Kingdom...
areas. Other crops include peanuts, cotton, corn, bananas, potatoes, and melons. Beans, tomatoes, onions, and peppers are grown in small vegetable gardens, and coffee is raised as a cash crop. Most of the farmers also raise some livestock.
Agricultural work, such as sowing, weeding, and harvesting, is shared equally by the men and women. Additional responsibilities for the men include hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and clearing land. The women's duties involve caring for the small vegetable gardens, tending to the chickens, trading in the local markets, and doing some fishing. Boys tend to the livestock, which are usually cattle and goats. Cows are considered very valuable animals, not for their milk, but as religious sacrifices.
Social Systems
For many generations, the Kissi have been known as a hard working people. They are very age-oriented, dominated and led by the chiefTribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
and the elderly people. The Kissi live in small, self-governing villages that are tucked inside groves of mango or kola trees. Each village is compact, containing no more than about 150 people. Houses are usually raised slightly above the ground and are round with mud walls, cone-shaped thatch roofs, verandahs. In the center of the village is a public square with a dwelling place for the village headman. He offers sacrifices at the village shrine and acts as judge over the community.
To the Kissi, a child is not considered "complete" and is thought of as dirty and impure. Therefore, when a boy or girl reaches puberty
Puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
, a purification
Ritual purification
Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. The aim of these rituals is to remove specifically defined uncleanliness prior to a particular type of activity, and especially prior to the worship of a deity...
ritual is held. This ceremony, called a biriye, "cleanses" the child and ushers him into adulthood. Afterwards, the boy or girl is expected to take on adult responsibilities.
Music plays a unique role in the Kissi culture. Sometimes, it is used for certain types of communication. The music does not necessarily have a melody, but rather a rhythmic sound with much drumming and whistling.
Religion and spiritual beliefs
Although many Kissi have converted to ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, most of them continue to practice their traditional ethnic religion. Ancestor worship or praying to deceased relatives is a common practice among the Kissi. The Kissi believe that ancestral spirits act as mediators between them and the creator god. Small stone statues are used to represent the spirits. They are worshipped and offered sacrifices by the village headmen.
The Kissi constantly live in fear of the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
. They wear charms in order to protect themselves from the evil spirits. Witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
is also practiced by sorcerers and witches. Some of the elders and religious leaders communicate with spirits through trances and hypnosis. The biriye and other rituals are held in the forest, since this is thought to be a sacred setting.
An interesting corruption of the name Kissi linked Christmas Mass to it to become Kissy Mess Mess, a neighbourhood of Freetown, SL.
Notable Kissi people
- Kai LondoKai LondoKai Londo was a Kissi warrior from Sierra Leone who conquered a large territory . He built new roads and fortified towns and established a new capital at Kailahun.-Early life:...
, great Kissi warrior from Sierra Leone who conquered a large territory and ruled with wisdom in Southern Sierra Leone. - Joseph BoakaiJoseph BoakaiJoseph Nyumah Boakai a Liberian politician and the current Vice President of Liberia, serving under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.-Personal:...
, current vice president of Liberia - Tom NyumaTom NyumaTom Nyuma is a retired Sierra Leonean military commander and currently the chairman of Kailahun District council from the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party . He was elected as chairman of Kailahun District council on July 6, 2008 with 87% of the vote...
, retired collonel in the Sierra Leonean Armed Forces, and the current council charman of Kailahun District - Tamba Borbor-SawyerTamba Borbor-SawyerTamba Borbor-Sawyer is a Sierra Leonean politician and a retired officer in the Sierra Leone Police. He is currently a member of parliament from the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party representing Kailahun District. He is a member of the Kissi ethnic group.-External...
, Sierra Leonean politician and a retired officer in the Sierra Leone PoliceSierra Leone PoliceThe Sierra Leone Police locally known as Salone Police is the national police force of the Republic of Sierra Leone, responsible for law enforcement and crime investigation throughout Sierra Leone...
. - Daniel N. Solee: Well known self educated man from Foya Karma town, Lofa County. He serve as a Minister at the Department of Finance and serve as the Assistant Minister at Department of Transportation during the 80s. Daniel was a very active community activist in the United States until his death in 2007. Daniel was born into a large tribal family house. His younger brother Daniel N Solee Jr. is currently undertaking family responsibilities. You can view Daniel web athttp://www.newdemocrat.org/other/7MaySoleeLofa.html
- Jusu SawieJusu SawieJusu Q.B. Sawie is a Sierra Leonean politician from the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party who is currently a member of Parliament of Sierra Leone representing Kailahun District. Sawie first ran for a seat in parliament in the 2002 general election, in which he won by a large margin...
, member of Sierra Leone's parliament representing Kailahun District - Kai Abdul FodayKai Abdul FodayKai Abdul Foday is a Sierra Leonean politician who is currently serving as member of Sierra Leone's parliament representing his hometown of Kono District. He is a member of the Sierra Leone People's Party...
, member of Sierra Leone's parliament representing Kono District - Albert FodayAlbert FodayAlbert Foday nickname Junnior Bianois a Sierra Leonean international footballer who is an attacking midfielder and is currently playing for FC Kallon, one of the top clubs in the Sierra Leone National Premier League.He is known in Sierra Leone for being a free kick expert...
, Sierra Leonean football star - Pascal FeindounoPascal FeindounoPascal Feindouno is a Guinean international footballer, who currently plays for Swiss side FC Sion as a winger.- Early career :...
, Guinean football star - Sarway DollarSarway DollarSarway Dollar is a Sierra Leonean international footballer currently playing at right back for Mighty Blackpool in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, and for the Leone Stars squad, as Sierra Leone national football team...
, Sierra Leonean football star - Augustine KortuAugustine KortuAugustine Kortu is a Sierra Leonean politician. He was Kailahun District Council chairman and mayor of Kailahun until July 2008. He is from the Kissi ethnic group.-References:...
, Sierra Leonean politician - Simon FeindounoSimon FeindounoSimon Feindouno is a French-Guinean football striker or winger currently playing for Ittihad Kalba in the United Arab Emirates.- Career :...
, Guinean football star - Tamba Egbinda Juana, Who fought for the creation of the three Kissi constituencies far east in the Kailahun District commonly known as Kissi Bendu. (Independent)(Politician)and (Representative)
- Rev. Moses Fayia, One of those that brought Christianity to Kissidom, including the Forest Region in Guinea and Lofa District in Liberia
- Tamba HaliTamba HaliTamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Defensive End for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
Michael Fayia Kallon first active Kissi writer living in New York City/USA. His website is: www.makonabooks.com
External links
- http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/Kissi_tribe.html
Tamba Egbinda Juana - Politician
Sia Amma is from the Kissi people of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. She is a stand-up comedian, writer, performer, singer, community activist and founder of Global Women Intact. www.globalwomenintact.org