Port Loko
Encyclopedia
Port Loko is the capital and second largest city
of Port Loko District
in the Northern Province
of Sierra Leone
. The city lies about 45 miles (72.4 km), as the crow flies, north-east of the nation's capital Freetown
and had a population of 21,961 in the 2004 census Port Loko lies on Banka Soka River, which flows into the Sierra Leone River
.
The population of Port Loko is mainly from the Temne ethnic group. The Temne language
along with the Krio language
are widely spoken in the town. Port Loko lies on the main highway
linking the country's capital Freetown
to the Sierra Leone border with Guinea
.
form of government, which is headed by a mayor
, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all local and national laws are enforced. The mayor is elected directly by the residents of Port Loko.
is widely spoken among the people of Port Loko, along with the Krio
, the national language
of Sierra Leone.
. The club currently plays in the Sierra Leone National First Division
, the second highest football league in Sierra Leone.
, one of the major colleges in Sierra Leone is located in the city.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Port Loko District
Port Loko District
Port Loko District is the most populous district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 489,488 Its capital is Port Loko and the largest city is Lunsar...
in the Northern Province
Northern Province, Sierra Leone
The Northern Province is one of the four provincial divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises five Districts and covers an area of 35,936 km² and with a population of 1,718,240 . Its administrative and economic center is Makeni...
of 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...
. The city lies about 45 miles (72.4 km), as the crow flies, north-east of the nation's capital Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
and had a population of 21,961 in the 2004 census Port Loko lies on Banka Soka River, which flows into the Sierra Leone River
Sierra Leone River
The Sierra Leone River is a river estuary on the Atlantic Ocean in Western Sierra Leone. It is formed by the Port Loko Creek and Rokel River and is between 4 and 10 miles wide and 25 miles long. It holds the major ports of Queen Elizabeth II Quay and Pepel. The estuary is also important for...
.
The population of Port Loko is mainly from the Temne ethnic group. The Temne language
Temne language
Temne is a language of the Atlantic subfamily of Niger–Congo languages spoken in Sierra Leone by about 2 million first speakers. One of the country's most widely spoken languages, it is spoken by 30% of the country’s population...
along with the Krio language
Krio language
Sierra Leone Krio is the lingua franca and the de facto national language spoken throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each...
are widely spoken in the town. Port Loko lies on the main highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
linking the country's capital Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
to the Sierra Leone border with 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...
.
Government
The city of Port Loko is governed with a city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
form of government, which is headed by a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all local and national laws are enforced. The mayor is elected directly by the residents of Port Loko.
Ethnicity
The population of Port Loko is ethnically diverse, although the Temne ethnic group predominate, and the Temne languageTemne language
Temne is a language of the Atlantic subfamily of Niger–Congo languages spoken in Sierra Leone by about 2 million first speakers. One of the country's most widely spoken languages, it is spoken by 30% of the country’s population...
is widely spoken among the people of Port Loko, along with the Krio
Krio language
Sierra Leone Krio is the lingua franca and the de facto national language spoken throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each...
, the national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
of Sierra Leone.
Sport
Port Loko has a football club named the Bai Bureh WarriorsBai Bureh Warriors
The Bai Bureh Warriors of Port Loko commonly known as Bai Bureh Warriors is a Sierra Leonean professional football club based in Port Loko, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone. The club represent Port Loko District and is currently playing in the Sierra Leone National First Division, the second...
. The club currently plays in the Sierra Leone National First Division
Sierra Leone National First Division
Sierra Leone National First Division is the second highest football league in Sierra Leone, after the Sierra Leone National Premier League. Along with the Sierra Leone National Premier League, they are the two major football leagues in Sierra Leone...
, the second highest football league in Sierra Leone.
Education
Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Port Loko has an education system with six years of primary school (Class 1–6), and six years of secondary school (Form 1–6); secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Form 1–3) and Senior secondary school (Form 4–6). Primary schools usually start from ages 6 to 12, and secondary schools usually start from ages 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools. The Port Loko Teacher's CollegePort Loko Teacher's College
Port Loko Teacher's College is a college located in Port Loko, Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1968. The college train prospective teachers for the primary and junior secondary school levels . At the end of the program, candidates qualify for the Teachers Certificate and the Higher Teachers...
, one of the major colleges in Sierra Leone is located in the city.
Notable people from Port Loko
- Bai BurehBai BurehBai Bureh was a Sierra Leonean ruler and military strategist who led the Temne and Loko uprising against British rule in 1898 in Northern Sierra Leone.-Early life:...
, Hero of The 1898 Rebellion - Sorie Ibrahim KoromaSorie Ibrahim KoromaSorie Ibrahim Koroma commonly known as S.I. Koroma is a former Sierra Leonean politician, labor activist and one of the founding members of the All People's Congress , one of Sierra Leone's most dominant political party...
, Vice President of Sierra Leone from 1971–1986
External links
- Sierra Leone Encyclopedia: Port Loko District
- BBC News story: Port Loko success for Ecomog
- Many pictures and short movies made in Port Loko: Pictures and Movies