Here we travel to the town of Kombayendeh in far eastern Sierra Leone, then by motorcycle with a friend to the Kissi village of Tormandu, then to his family farm. Both Kombayendeh and Tormandu are in Lei Chiefdom which lies along the Guinean border.
The Kissi are an ethnic group who live in the border regions of Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia where the three countries meet. Their main large city is Kissidougou which is in Guinea. Though they are citizens of three separate countries, they travel across borders and may have relatives in the other countries. In Sierra Leone their home country is mainly in the far east in Kono and Kailahun Districts.
The Kissi are known for their iron work and this village has a blacksmith as you see here. In past times, a form of money made of iron by Kissi blacksmiths, the “Kissi Penny“, was the main currency in this part of West Africa. This was before colonialism brought western-style currency (see the photo).
Thanks to Fallah Sorie Kamara and his family for this exciting trip.
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Kissi Pennies –
Arriving in Kombayendeh – I met my friend at the Government Hospital.
Traders in Kombayendeh town.
A woman washing clothes.
The road to the Guinea border with the town’s school buildings.
We start our five-mile ride to the village.
Arriving at Tormandu.
The blacksmith – anvil and bellows
The mosque –
Moving on to the rice farm. The village looks empty because most people are at their farms. It was a weekend so kids were home from school.
My friend with his sister and family at their farm hut.
Take a chicken back with you! – a chicken carrier.
