Before the slave trade · to 1561
Stone tools from rock shelters, nomoli figures turned up in farms, iron smelters, and the ivory carvings Sapi artists made for Portuguese traders in the 1400s and 1500s.
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.
Yagala Rock shelter archaeological site, Sierra Leone (West Africa), 1968 (1800299246) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Prehistoric dolerite celts from archaeological excavations at Kamabai Rock Shelter, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (1569758685) 1969
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-Art historian-British Museum 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (1) 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (2) 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (3) 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (4) Taken in June 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (7) Taken in June 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-British Museum (8) Taken in June 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Soapstone "Nomoli" figure from Sierra Leone (West Africa) (1347988326) 1970
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli-Tervuren (1) Taken in 1977
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Dominic Mansaray on a bridge between Kabala and Kaseredugu, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (491568424) Photographed 1967 or 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Yagala Rock Shelter, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (2495872806) Photographed 1967 or 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Salt cellar, Sapi kingdom 1, Ethnological Museum 2009
Original title: Salzgefäß Königreich Sapi 1 EthnM
User:FA2010 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli with a crocodile, Musée de la Compagnie des Indes 2012
Original title: Nomoli au crocodile-Musée de la Compagnie des Indes
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli, Royal Museum for Central Africa (1) 2012
Original title: Nomoli-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (1)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli, Royal Museum for Central Africa (2) 2012
Original title: Nomoli-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (2)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli: seated monkey, Musée de la Compagnie des Indes 2012
Original title: Nomoli singe assis-Musée de la Compagnie des Indes
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Side-blown horn, Sapi, Sierra Leone (1) 2012
Original title: Trompe traversière sapi-Sierra Leone (1)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Side-blown horn, Sapi, Sierra Leone (2) 2012
Original title: Trompe traversière sapi-Sierra Leone (2)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sierra Leone, Sapi, ivory horn, 15th–16th century, 01
Original title: Sierra leone, sapi, corno in avorio, xv-xvi sec. 01
Sailko · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 01
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 02
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 03
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 04
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 05
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 06
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 07
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 08
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 09
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 10
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 11
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Nomoli anthropomorphic figurine, Kissi people, Sierra Leone 12
Mickey Mystique · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi salt cellar, 16th century, ivory, Saint-Remi 1008875
Original title: Salière Sapi XVIe ivoire st-Remi 1008875
G.Garitan · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory horn (oliphant), 15th–16th century (1)
Original title: Sierra leone, olifante, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 01
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory horn (oliphant), 15th–16th century (2)
Original title: Sierra leone, olifante, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 02
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory horn (oliphant), 15th–16th century (3)
Original title: Sierra leone, olifante, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 03
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory horn (oliphant), 15th–16th century (4)
Original title: Sierra leone, olifante, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 04
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar, 15th–16th century (1)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 01
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar, 15th–16th century (2)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 02
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar, 15th–16th century (3)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 03
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (1)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 01
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (2)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 02
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (3)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 03
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (4, base)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 04 base
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (5, base)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 05 base
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sapi-Portuguese ivory saltcellar on a tall foot, 15th–16th century (6)
Original title: Sierra leone, saliera su alto piede, in stile sapi-portoghese, in avorio, xv-xvi secolo, 06
Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture