Sorie Ibrahim Koroma
Encyclopedia
Sorie 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
(APC), one of Sierra Leone's most dominant political party
. He served as Vice President of Sierra Leone
from April 19, 1971 to retirement in on November 28, 1985 under president Siaka Stevens
. Sorie Ibrahim Koroma was a close personal friend and an ally
of president Stevens. To date, S.I. Koroma is widely considered the most influential vice president in Sierra Leone's history.
in Port Loko District
. Though raised in a Temne home, SI Koroma never forgot his Mandingo heritage and he was also fluent in the Mandingo language. Many prominent Temne politicians including, Multi Kamara often denounced S. I. Koroma as being a Madingo and not a Temne to humiliate him and rob him of the Temne support
After the death of his father, his mother, Ya Iye Wureh, got married to a man called Bockarie Dumbuya, a nephew of Alikali Mela (who was then Paramount Chief of Port Loko District). Alikali Mela made his nephew Bockari Dumbuya a sub chief, conferring him the title “Or Sultan.” Alikali Mela also crowned SI’s mother a chief, giving her the title of “Ya Alimamy.” That was how Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, the only child to his mother, became a member of two important ruling families in Port Loko – the Bangura and Dumbuya families.
and the Government Secondary School in Bo
in the southern region of Sierra Leone. He went to Bo school at a time when it was an institution exclusively for individuals belonging to ruling families in the provinces. His father, believed to be a Mandingo from Guinea, died when SI was just a little boy.
After completing his secondary education, S I Koroma, who had a fierce determination to succeed in life, landed a job with the Sierra Leone Government Co-operative Department. He worked there from 1951 to 1958 and took a course during that period at the Cooperative College, Ibadan, Nigeria. On his return home, he resigned from Government Service to set up his own private business. He fared well in the transportation business and within a short time became Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Motor Transport Union.
(APC), which has since been one of the premier political parties in the country. In 1962, Koroma was elected as a Member of Parliament
to the Parliament of Sierra Leone
representing a district of Freetown, to which he was re-elected in the 1967 election
and the return to civilian control in 1968, Koroma became the Minister of Trade and Industry in Siaka Steven's
first cabinet. From 1968 until 1985, Koroma served various functions in the government, including Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1969–1971), Vice-President (1971–1985) and Prime Minister(1971–1975), Minister of Finance (1975–1978). He would continue in that position until 1978, when he was appointed First Vice-President after the APC declared itself the only legal party. Koroma was the First Vice President until he retired from politics to care more directly for his palm oil
plantation near his birthplace in Port Loko.
All People's Congress
The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura...
(APC), one of Sierra Leone's most dominant political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. He served as Vice President of Sierra Leone
Vice President of Sierra Leone
The Vice President of Sierra Leone is a position in the executive branch of the Republic of Sierra Leone.-History:When Sierra Leone was declared a Republic in 1971 by then Prime Minister Siaka Stevens, the position of Vice President was created...
from April 19, 1971 to retirement in on November 28, 1985 under president Siaka Stevens
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging...
. Sorie Ibrahim Koroma was a close personal friend and an ally
Ally
Ally is a common unisex given name. It is a variant of Allie. It can also refer to:* Ally, a 1999 American TV sitcom that was a spin-off of Ally McBeal.* Ally Bank, an internet bank, formerly the banking unit of GMAC....
of president Stevens. To date, S.I. Koroma is widely considered the most influential vice president in Sierra Leone's history.
Family heritage
One of Sierra Leone’s most vibrant political figures, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma was born in Port Loko, Maforki Chiefdom, Port Loko District in the northern region of Sierra Leone. His father, who was a member of the Mandingo ethnic group, died when he was just a little boy. After the death of his father, his mother, Ya Iye Wureh, married to an ethnic Temne chief named Bai Bockarie Dumbuya, the nephew of Alikali Mela (who was then Paramount Chief of Port Loko District). Koroma was raised in the Dumbuya family household instead of the Koroma family compound at Sendugu Chief, an area dominated by ethnic Mandingo and SusuSusu people
The Soso are a major Mande ethnic group living primarily in Guinea. Smaller communities are also located in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali. The Susu are descendants of the thirteenth century Mali Empire...
in 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...
. Though raised in a Temne home, SI Koroma never forgot his Mandingo heritage and he was also fluent in the Mandingo language. Many prominent Temne politicians including, Multi Kamara often denounced S. I. Koroma as being a Madingo and not a Temne to humiliate him and rob him of the Temne support
After the death of his father, his mother, Ya Iye Wureh, got married to a man called Bockarie Dumbuya, a nephew of Alikali Mela (who was then Paramount Chief of Port Loko District). Alikali Mela made his nephew Bockari Dumbuya a sub chief, conferring him the title “Or Sultan.” Alikali Mela also crowned SI’s mother a chief, giving her the title of “Ya Alimamy.” That was how Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, the only child to his mother, became a member of two important ruling families in Port Loko – the Bangura and Dumbuya families.
Education
SI Koroma was educated at the Government Model Elementary School in FreetownFreetown
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 the Government Secondary School in Bo
Bo, Sierra Leone
Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District...
in the southern region of Sierra Leone. He went to Bo school at a time when it was an institution exclusively for individuals belonging to ruling families in the provinces. His father, believed to be a Mandingo from Guinea, died when SI was just a little boy.
After completing his secondary education, S I Koroma, who had a fierce determination to succeed in life, landed a job with the Sierra Leone Government Co-operative Department. He worked there from 1951 to 1958 and took a course during that period at the Cooperative College, Ibadan, Nigeria. On his return home, he resigned from Government Service to set up his own private business. He fared well in the transportation business and within a short time became Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Motor Transport Union.
Formation of the APC and Parliament
In 1960, he was member of the All People's CongressAll People's Congress
The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura...
(APC), which has since been one of the premier political parties in the country. In 1962, Koroma was elected as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
to the Parliament of Sierra Leone
Parliament of Sierra Leone
The unicameral Parliament of Sierra Leone is the country's legislative body. It is sometimes known as the House of Representatives.The current Parliament, formed following elections held on 14 May 2002, has a total of 124 members. 112 members are directly elected in multi-member constituencies...
representing a district of Freetown, to which he was re-elected in the 1967 election
Elections in Sierra Leone
Elections in Sierra Leone gives information on election and election results in Sierra Leone.Sierra Leone elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
Cabinet positions
After the 1967 coup d'état by David LansanaDavid Lansana
Brigadier David Lansana was one of the very few Sierra Leoneans to be educated at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England during the colonial period. As Lieutenant David Lansana he was a frequent and popular visitor to the home of Sir Robert de Zouche Hall, Governor of Sierra Leone...
and the return to civilian control in 1968, Koroma became the Minister of Trade and Industry in Siaka Steven's
Siaka Stevens
Siaka Probyn Stevens was the 3rd prime minister of Sierra Leone from 1967–1971 and the 1st president of Sierra Leone from 1971–1985. Stevens is generally criticised for dictatorial methods of government in which many of his political opponents were executed, as well as for mismanaging...
first cabinet. From 1968 until 1985, Koroma served various functions in the government, including Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources (1969–1971), Vice-President (1971–1985) and Prime Minister(1971–1975), Minister of Finance (1975–1978). He would continue in that position until 1978, when he was appointed First Vice-President after the APC declared itself the only legal party. Koroma was the First Vice President until he retired from politics to care more directly for his palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
plantation near his birthplace in Port Loko.