The Krios (Sierra Leone Creole) are descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean (primarily Jamaica) and freed slaves from the United States who landed in Freetown at the beginning of the nineteenth century. They were subjects of the British crown and enjoyed its protection as nationals.
The majority of the Creole Krios are returned slaves. They were returned after the abolition of slavery by the British, curbing the transatlantic slave trade. Because of being returned from slave ships many Krios have a possible Yoruba connection, and you will find a lot of Krios with Yoruba names.
The first group was freed slaves from the US, who had settled in Nova Scotia, but most died when they arrived in Sierra Leone. A few were the Maroons from Jamaica, and after a failed uprising, were sent to Sierra Leone. Maroons continue to maintain their culture in Sierra Leone.
They speak Krio, a creole language that is a mixture of English and African languages. It also includes other languages, including French and Spanish/Portuguese.
They live mostly in Freetown and surrounding areas as well as The Gambia, Guinea, Senegal, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Meals are usually based on the day of the week. Foofoo and a type of plasas (leafy vegetable sauce) is often eaten on Saturday. The plasas is made with palm oil except for wet soup (white soup). Other types of plasas: okra dried or fresh, bitter leaf, sawasawa, kreinkrein, shakpa among others. Foofoo is not spicy but the plasas sauce is. They eat tripe. Sunday dinner is jollof rice and stew or couscous and stew or groundnut soup and white rice, usually with a salad and plantains. Awujoh meals on Fridays or to commemorate events typically include beans, plantain, acara, olele, and white sweet potato, all cooked in palm oil (some can also be cooked in oil, which is a more recent incorporation). Other foods include cassava leaves and potato leaves.
Most Krios are Christians, although some also adhere to traditional beliefs. A minimal number of Krios are Muslims--mostly women who marry other local tribesmen who are Muslims.
Either way, education is critical to the Krios and their future.
Pray for the Lord to bless the Creole Krio s harvests as a testimony of his sovereignty and goodness.
Pray for Creole Krio s leaders to open the door to Christ's ambassadors.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out Holy Spirit-anointed workers to come from the Creole Krio community.
Pray for a powerful movement to Christ among every people in Guinea.
Scripture Prayers for the Krio, Creole in Guinea.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |