Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone


The chiefdoms of Sierra Leone are the third-level units of administration in Sierra Leone. There are 190 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, as of 2017. Previously, there were 149.

History and organisation

The paramount chiefs and the ruling families in the chiefdoms were recognised and empowered by the British colonial administration when it organised the Protectorate of Sierra Leone in 1896. Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas."
The hereditary paramount chiefs and their sub-chiefs were the sole local government in Sierra Leone until 2004, when the World Bank sponsored the creation of elected local councils. Local notables, known as the Tribal Authority, elect paramount chiefs for life from among the ruling families in each chieftaincy recognised by the British administration in 1896.
Some chieftaincies have several ruling families, and the differences among them in terms of economic progress has been subject to study in 2013. They found there was a positive relationship between the number of ruling families in a chieftaincy and educational, health and economic outcomes in terms of human capital.
The districts of Sierra Leone were divided into 149 chiefdoms of chieftaincies until 2017, as listed below as of 2011. Since 2017, they have been divided into 190 chiefdoms.

Eastern Province

[Kailahun District]

  1. Dea – Baiwala
  2. Jaluahun – Segbwema
  3. Jawei – Daru
  4. Kissi Kama – Dea
  5. Kissi Teng – Kangama
  6. Kissi Tongi – Buedu
  7. Luawa – Kailahun
  8. Malema – Jojoima
  9. Mandu – Mobai
  10. Peje Bongre – Manowa
  11. Peje West – Bunumbu
  12. Penguia – Sandar
  13. Upper Bambara – Pendembu
  14. Yawei – Bandajuma

    [Kenema District]

  15. Dama – Giema
  16. Dodo – Dodo
  17. Gaura – Joru
  18. Gorama Mende – Tungie
  19. Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
  20. Koya – Baoma
  21. Langurama Ya – Baima
  22. Lower Bambara – Panguma
  23. Malegohun – Sembehun
  24. Niawa – Sundumei
  25. Nomo – Faama
  26. Nongowa – Kenema
  27. Simbaru – Boajibu
  28. Small Bo – Blama
  29. Tunkia – Gorahun
  30. Wando – Faala

    [Kono District]

  31. Fiama – Njagbwema
  32. Gbane Kandor – Koardu
  33. Gbane – Ngandorhun
  34. Gbense – Yardu
  35. Gorama Kono – Kangama
  36. Kamara – Tombodu
  37. Lei – Siama
  38. Mafindor – Kamiendor
  39. Nimikoro – Njaiama
  40. Nimiyama – Sewafe
  41. Sandor – Kayima
  42. Soa – Kainkordu
  43. Tankoro – New Sembehun
  44. Toli – Kondewakor

    Northern Province

[Bombali District]

  1. Biriwa – Kamabai
  2. Bombali Shebora – Makeni
  3. Gbanti Kamaranka – Kamaranka
  4. Gbendembu Ngowahun – Kalangba
  5. Libeisaygahun – Batkanu
  6. Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa
  7. Makari Gbanti – Masongbon
  8. Paki Massabong – Mapaki
  9. Safroko Limba – Binkolo
  10. Sanda Loko – Kamalo
  11. Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi
  12. Sella Limba – Kamakwie
  13. Tambakha – Fintonia

    [Koinadugu District]

  14. Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
  15. Diang – Kondembaia
  16. Folasaba – Musaia
  17. Kasunko – Fadugu
  18. Mongo – Bendugu
  19. Neya – Krubola
  20. Nieni – Yiffin
  21. Sengbe – Yogomaia
  22. Sulima – Falaba
  23. Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea
  24. Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

    [Tonkolili District]

  25. Gbonkolenken – Yele
  26. Kafe Simiria – Mabonto
  27. Kalansongoia – Bumbuna
  28. Kholifa Mabang – Mabang
  29. Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka
  30. Kunike – Masingbi
  31. Kunike Barina – Makali
  32. Malal Mara – Rochin
  33. Sambaia – Bendugu
  34. Tane – Matotoka
  35. Yoni – Yonibana

    North Western Province

[Kambia District]

  1. Brimaia – Kukuna
  2. Gbinle Dixing – Tawuya
  3. Magbema – Kambia
  4. Mambolo – Mambolo
  5. Masungbala – Kawula
  6. Samu – Kychum
  7. Tonko Limba – Madina

    [Port Loko District]

  8. Bureh Kasseh – Mange
  9. Buya Romende – Foredugu
  10. Debia – Gbinti
  11. Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
  12. Koya – Songo
  13. Loko Masama – Petifu
  14. Maforki – Port Loko
  15. Marampa – Lunsar
  16. Masimera – Masimera
  17. Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
  18. T.M. Safroko – Miraykulay

    Southern Province

[Bo District]

  1. Badjia – Ngelehun
  2. Bagbo – Jimmi
  3. Bagbwe – Ngarlu
  4. Baoma – Baoma
  5. Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
  6. Gbo – Gbo
  7. Jaiama Bongor – Telu
  8. Kakua – Bo town
  9. Komboya – Njala
  10. Lugbu – Sumbuya
  11. Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
  12. Selenga – Dambala
  13. Tikonko – Tikonko
  14. Valunia – Mongere
  15. Wonde – Gboyama

    [Bonthe District]

  16. Bendu – Cha Bendu
  17. Bum – Madina
  18. Dema – Tissana
  19. Imperri – Gbangbama
  20. Jong – Mattru
  21. Kpanda – Kemo Motuo
  22. Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
  23. Nongoba Bullom – Gbap
  24. Sittia – Yonni
  25. Sogbini – Tihun
  26. Yawbeko – Talia

    [Moyamba District]

  27. Bagruwa – Sembehun
  28. Banta – Gbangbatoke
  29. Bumpe – Rotifunk
  30. Dasse – Mano
  31. Fakunya – Gandohun
  32. Kagboro – Shenge
  33. Kaiyamba – Moyamba
  34. Kamajei – Senehun
  35. Kongbora – Bauya
  36. Kori – Taiama
  37. Kowa – Njama
  38. Ribbi – Bradford
  39. Timdale – Bomotoke
  40. Upper Banta – Mokelle

    [Pujehun District]

  41. Barri – Potoru
  42. Gallines Perri – Blama
  43. Kpaka – Masam
  44. Kpanga Kabonde – Pujehun town
  45. Makpele – Zimmi
  46. Malen – Sahn
  47. Mano Sa Krim – Gbonjema
  48. Kpanga Krim – Gobaru
  49. Peje – Futta
  50. Sorogbema – Fairo
  51. Sowa – Bandajuma
  52. Yakemo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu