what is Sierra Leonean literature?

Sierra Leone is home to multiple ethnic groups, such as Mende, Temne, Limba, with a variety of traditions, rituals, and languages. Like many African countries, Sierra Leone has a strong oral tradition. Folktales, proverbs, and oral histories have been passed down through generations. Sierra Leone was a British colony from 1808 to 1961. After gaining independence in 1961, Sierra Leonean literature began to address issues related to nation-building, identity, and the challenges faced by a newly independent nation. Authors grapple with the complexities of governance, corruption, and social change. The civil war that occurred in Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002 left a profound impact on the nation, and this is reflected in its literature. Works written during or after the conflict often explore the traumatic experiences of war, displacement, and the process of healing and rebuilding. In recent years, there has been a notable emergence of female writers from Sierra Leone who bring unique perspectives to the literary landscape. They explore issues related to gender, identity, and societal expectations. ​Notable Sierra Leonean authors include Syl Cheney-Coker, Aminatta Forna, and Ishmael Beah. 

I have read

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I have written

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where is the art of Sierra Leone?

Like almost every Tuesday, I have spent the day at the Czartoryski Museum here in Krakow. But really, every time I go, I find something positively mind-boggling. Imagine this beautiful African 16th-century ivory, provenant from Sierra Leone, originally serving as a salt container ... transformed, for the use of Czartoryski princes, into guess what? ... a sort of secular reliquary allegedly containing a piece of the skull of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Definitely, ils sont fous ces Polonais!



Kraków, January 30th, 2024.