Sherbro Island
Encyclopedia
Sherbro Island, is an island
in the Atlantic Ocean
, located in Bonthe District
off the Southern Province
of Sierra Leone
. The Sherbro
make up by far the largest ethnic group
in the island.
The island is separated from the African mainland by the Sherbro River in the north and the Sherbro Strait in the east.
It is 32 miles (51.5 km) long and up to 15 miles (24.1 km) wide, covering an area of approximately 230 square miles (595.7 km²). The western extremity is Cape St. Ann.
Bonthe
, on the eastern end, is the chief port and commercial centre.
The island has over 65 miles (104.6 km) of tropical beaches and has been earmarked by the Ministry for Tourism and Development of Sierra Leone for tourism development.
post against the slave trade.
The island was acquired from the Sherbro people by the colony at Freetown
in 1861.
In 1815 Paul Cuffe
settled a group of 88 freed slaves on Sherbro Island.
The island was also surveyed by Samuel John Mills
and Ebenezer Burgess at the behest of the American Colonization Society
. This survey led to the passing of an act by the U.S. Congress on March 3, 1819, authorizing the return of freed blacks slaves to their "motherland".
The ACS group of freed slaves arrived at Sherbro Island in 1821 before being driven by circumstance to Providence Island
at Cape Mesurado
in present day Liberia
in April 1822.
s as well as leatherback sea turtle
s.http://www.seaturtle.org/mtn/archives/mtn54/mtn54p10.shtml Also the water surrounding the island, holds some of the biggest tarpon
in the world, some records at sportfishing organisation IGFA comes from this area.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, located in Bonthe District
Bonthe District
Bonthe District comprises several islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone and a mainland area. Its capital is the town of Mattru Jong and the largest town in the district is Bonthe, on Sherbro Island and the town of Masabendu....
off the Southern Province
Southern Province, Sierra Leone
The Southern Province is one of three provinces of Sierra Leone. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 . It consists of four districts . Its capital and administrative center is Bo, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone...
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 Sherbro
Sherbro people
The Sherbro people are a native people of Sierra Leone, who speak the Sherbro language; they make up 3% of Sierra Leone's population or about 201,000. They are also known as the Bullom people...
make up by far the largest ethnic group
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...
in the island.
The island is separated from the African mainland by the Sherbro River in the north and the Sherbro Strait in the east.
It is 32 miles (51.5 km) long and up to 15 miles (24.1 km) wide, covering an area of approximately 230 square miles (595.7 km²). The western extremity is Cape St. Ann.
Bonthe
Bonthe
Bonthe is a town located on Sherbro Island in Bonthe District of the southern Province of Sierra Leone. The town had a population of 9,535 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate of 10,206. In colonial times it used to be a major trading centre for piassava and other agricultural products...
, on the eastern end, is the chief port and commercial centre.
The island has over 65 miles (104.6 km) of tropical beaches and has been earmarked by the Ministry for Tourism and Development of Sierra Leone for tourism development.
Economic activities
Swamp-rice cultivation, tourism and fishing are the main economic activities.History
Sherbro Island is the site of an early 19th-century BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
post against the slave trade.
The island was acquired from the Sherbro people by the colony at 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...
in 1861.
In 1815 Paul Cuffe
Paul Cuffe
Paul Cuffee was a Quaker businessman, Sea Captain, patriot, and abolitionist. He was of Aquinnah Wampanoag and African Ashanti descent and helped colonize Sierra Leone...
settled a group of 88 freed slaves on Sherbro Island.
The island was also surveyed by Samuel John Mills
Samuel John Mills
Samuel John Mills Jr. was born at Torringford, Connecticut.His father was Congregational minister Samuel John Mills and mother was Esther Robbins....
and Ebenezer Burgess at the behest of the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
. This survey led to the passing of an act by the U.S. Congress on March 3, 1819, authorizing the return of freed blacks slaves to their "motherland".
The ACS group of freed slaves arrived at Sherbro Island in 1821 before being driven by circumstance to Providence Island
Providence Island
Providence Island may refer to:*Providencia Island, part of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina in Colombia, which was settled by the Providence Island Company*Providence Island is an island*Providence Atoll in Seychelles...
at Cape Mesurado
Cape Mesurado
Cape Mesurado is a headland on the coast of Liberia near the capital Monrovia and the mouth of the Saint Paul River. It was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s...
in present day 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...
in April 1822.
Environment
Sherbro Island is believed to be a breeding ground for green sea turtleGreen Sea Turtle
The Green sea turtle or green turtle is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
s as well as leatherback sea turtle
Leatherback Sea Turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest of all living sea turtles and the fourth largest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys. It can easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of a bony shell. Instead, its...
s.http://www.seaturtle.org/mtn/archives/mtn54/mtn54p10.shtml Also the water surrounding the island, holds some of the biggest tarpon
Tarpon
Tarpons are large fish of the genus Megalops. There are two species of Megalops, one native to the Atlantic, and the other to the Indo-Pacific oceans.They are the only members of the family Megalopidae.- Species and habitats :...
in the world, some records at sportfishing organisation IGFA comes from this area.