Suffian Koroma Interview

Authors

George Tucker Childs, Portland State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Interview

Publication Date

2-20-2016

Subjects

Sherbro (African people) -- Social life and customs, Sherbro language

Disciplines

African Languages and Societies | Applied Linguistics

Abstract

Suffian is Speaker of the Kagboro Chiefdom meaning he does most of the legwork, especially in that the Paramount Chief Madam Lenga is now old and infirm. He is a well-informed and experienced administrator. Well-educated, knows a lot about history. After the usual questions about family (Suffian comes from a family of twelve children, with only he and a younger sister surviving), Abdulai Bendu (the interviewer) asks him some questions about the domain of Bolom. The answers are revealing. Bolom is no longer spoken on the coastal areas, which have been taken over by the Temne, and he remarks that the Bolom are very quick at learning other languages. This skill is often one possessed by those out of power. He talks of marriage formerly involving only a “head” of tobacco but now marriage is suffused with money. He describes Muslim burial practices. Abdulai strangely accuses him of being Temne. Suffian clarifies the origin of his name among the Maninka and other Mende groups.

Location

Africa, Sierra Leone, Kagboro Chiefdon, Shenge

Participants

Suffian Idrissa Koroma (consultant), Abdulai Bendu (researcher)

Languages

Sherbro, English

ISO 639

bun, eng

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28166

Citation Details

Childs, George Tucker, "Suffian Koroma Interview" (2016). The Sherbro Language and Culture of Sierra Leone. 24.
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28166