The colony · 1787–1895
Masks,societiesandfaith
The Sande (Bondo) and Poro societies and their masquerades, nomoli and minsereh figures, and the churches and mosques. Pictures of society matters stay behind a notice, out of respect.
Many were made by colonial officials, missionaries and foreign visitors. Titles and descriptions come from the collections that hold them and can carry the attitudes and language of their time. We show them as historical records, not as endorsements. Dates, eras and categories were assigned automatically from those records and some will be wrong. If you or your family appear in a picture, you hold rights to one, a detail is wrong, or you think a picture should not be here, press “Report this picture” under it: your note reaches our editors with the picture attached, and they can take it down straight away. You can also write to hello@dt-ets.com.
Church and mission house, Regent 1850
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How the guilty are found out in Sierra Leone; Susu men prepared for the sacrifice of the bull 1839
Original title: Modo di scoprire i rei nella Sierra Leona ; Susui preparati al sacrifizio del toro
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This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Fragment of a Female Figure 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Janus Faced (Ndoli jowei) Mask of the Sande Society late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Mancala Game Board 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask (ndoli jowei) for Sande Society 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Janus Faced Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Female figure, probably Temne People, Sierra Leon, early 19th century CE. Sculpture. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Female figure, probably Temne People, Sierra Leon, early 19th century CE. Sculpture. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Owen Emeric Vidal (far right), first Bishop of Sierra Leone, before leaving England for Freetown, 1852 1852
Original title: Bishop Owen Emeric Vidal (far right) and relatives and probably bishop Ashurst Gilbert of Chichester seated centre probably on OEVs ordinati
W1k1T1ppEx · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Boys of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. 1880–93
(artist not separately acknowledged) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Mission School of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. 1880–93
(artist not separately acknowledged) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture