Krios of Sierra Leone

 John Smythe was from the Krio Tribe of Sierra Leone, who before 1787 did not exist. The Krios are descendants of liberated slaves from America, the Caribbean, UK and Africa.  This group of people include the ‘Black Poor’ from Britain, Freed slaves from Nova Scotia who fought on the  side of Britain in the American war of Independence, ‘The Maroons’ from Jamaica who fought against slavery and freed slaves from ships intercepted by the Royal Navy after the trade was abolished.  

 This disparate group of people would unite in an area of Sierra Leone which would become known as Freetown, and became the capital of the country. A brand new culture emerged which mixed together the excitement and richness of cultures from a number of different countries. New music, art, food, dress and house building united under the language known as Krio. This language itself was a combination of several languages and is now the lingua franca of the country.  They were overwhelmingly Christian and the British who would later colonise the country invested in them as they wanted them to spread Christianity through West Africa and improve trade links between Britain and West Africa. The Krios would emulate the Victorian British of the time in many ways, even copying the way they dressed.  

Fourah Bay College, founded in 1827, was the first University level  institution in Africa

John Smythe (first row, second from the right) with African and Caribbean RAF recruits

The first ever Western style university in sub Saharan Africa,  Fourah Bay College, would be built in Freetown. Furthermore, it was the first university level institution in Africa and was formally affiliated with Durham university. The Krios became a highly educated group of people who dominated early government under Colonial rule. At one stage in time, they were even entitled to British Passports such was the relationship with Britain. All of this was a great achievement by a group of people who only represented 2% of the population of the country.

As a result of this, there was an indelible link between the Krios and Britain. It was unsurprising therefore that the five men selected from Sierra Leone to join the RAF during world war two were Krios.