Reports from Borborkombor Section in Kakua Chiefdom, Bo district, Southern Sierra Leone, reveal that the Bondo Secret Society in the Chiefdom has issued death threats against Mrs Aminata Lebbie, over her refusal to be in as a Sowie Priestess, replacing her Grandmother, who was the Spiritual Head and Sowie of the society.
According to our source, Aminata Lebbie was marked from birth to replace her grandmother in the secret society, with the agreement of her entire family, and a covenant entered with the grandmother on same, unknown to her, as she was a child. It was disclosed that the grandmother and the elders in the society had agreed to let Aminata to finish her education, after which she should be initiated.
Unfortunately, on completion of her higher education pursuit, the elders confronted her with the agreement, which she vehemently rejected, much to the anger of the members, who viewed her response as an insult to the tradition and culture of the Chiefdom and an affront to the authority of the society.
Several attempts were made since… to 2022 to get Aminata Lebbie to conform to the demands of tradition to no avail. A letter was then written by the tribal authority of the Chiefdom informing her of the importance of her adherence to the dictates of their tradition and culture, reminding her of the conformity of her entire family to their tradition in being initiated. The secret society and the local authorities indicated their intolerance to her unbecoming behavior, touching a sacred duty demanded by tradition and culture of the land.
It was further disclosed by close sources, who wished to remain anonymous, that threats of death were issued against Aminata Lebbie after she managed to escape from forceful initiation in the Chiefdom, when she was invited by the authorities there to discuss the reason for her refusal to be initiated. The elders in the tribal authority attempted to handover Aminata to the members of the Secret Society, who were hiding in the house of the Chief during the engagement with Aminata by the tribal authority in the courtyard.
Upon escaping from the grip of the elders via pretext of using the toilet, Aminata is said to have gone through a nearby bush and left the village. While at her home in Freetown, she has had death threats and physical attacks from other affiliate society members of the Bondo Secret Society, as well as threats of an imminent abduction and subsequent forceful initiation. As the threats grew, Aminata Lebbie is said to have absconded from her home and gone into hiding, angering the members of the Bondo Secret Society, both in Freetown and her village, and these have gone on a nationwide search for her. This medium has been informed that Aminata has reported to the police but no action was takenas this matter is purely female traditional practice and a taboo to be discuss by non-initiates.
As we go to press, the whereabouts of Aminata Lebbie are still unknown, with no sign of the secret society members giving up on their pursuit of her.
