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Sierra Leone
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Sierra Leone
Dancing
There are many different kinds of Dances in Sierra Leone. The most popular form of dancing is called Devil Dancing. In these dances, there is a "devil" which is fully clothed to show that there is no human inside of it.
Devil Dancing
In English, the word devil means an evil being that is able to affect humans in negative ways. However, the people of Sierra Leone believe that devils are not evil. Their purpose is not in doing bad things to people, as long as you stay in line with the norms of behavior for the secret society and community.
Devil Dances
Devil Dance Example
The Devil Dance
Societies
Social Life
Societies are a fundamental part of Sierra Leonean culture, especially exclusive or secret ones. These societies are split by gender, and the members must obey a strict code of conduct. The ‘Poro’ (male) and the ‘Sande’ (female) societies, for example, play an educational role in village culture for children who are reaching puberty. They are taught essential skills and knowledge that will be important for their role within society. These societies play an important role in regulating social events, and respect. Joining these societies gives high social prestige.
About the Poro Society
Poro
New members are marked with scars. The boys stay in a camp away from their parents and friends. They sleep out in the open and shout to scare off strangers who happen to come near. They learn the ancient traditions and practice drumming and Poro songs. They are …taken before masked initiates impersonating spirits, the chief of whom is known as the Gbeni. At the end of the training they return to the community as fully fledged adults. Initiation into the society looks like a series of rituals the last from November to May.
About the Sande Society
Sande
The initiation of new members into the Sande Society occurs over a period of a year or more, during which the girls are educated in ritual knowledge, practical life skills, proper social behavior, and motherhood. Initiation camps are built for privacy, and only members and initiates are allowed to enter the camp. The inner workings of these camps has been kept secret, as called for by the Sande code. Once members are fully initiated into the Sande society, they are expected to uphold the ideal of the Sande and serve as respectable members of society. The vast majority of new members are married immediately after the initiation period, as the training received in the initiation camp directly correlates to the initiates' new role as a wife and mother.
Religion
In Sierra Leone, there are many religions. Islam is the most widely practiced religion, with about 78% of the population being of the Muslim faith. This is followed by Christianity which make up about 20.9%. Other beliefs include traditional African religions, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judaism.