Kono people

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Kono are a major Mande-speaking ethnic group in Sierra Leone, making up about 5% of the population. Their main home is the diamond-rich Kono District in the eastern part of the country, where many Konos work as diamond miners and farmers. The total population is about 363,000. The Kono speak the Kono language as their first language. Many young people also use Krio to talk with people from other Sierra Leonean groups, and English is common in schools and official settings.

Most Konos practice Islam or Christianity, with some following traditional African beliefs. They honor their ancestors and spirits, and some use charms or other beliefs in daily life. The Bondo is a traditional women’s secret society that guides girls into adulthood, discusses fertility and morality, and supports members throughout life.

Origins say the Kono are descended from Mali-Guinean migrants who came to this area in Sierra Leone in the 1500s, though people lived in the region as far back as 2200 BCE. Colonial borders split the Kono, and some now live across the border in Guinea. They once faced pressure from the Mende people but eventually returned to their eastern homeland.