THE MENACE OF PORO SOCIETY IN SIERRA LEONE
Authored By Abdul Karim Turay
Sierra Leone is a place where many secret societies emanated. Popular among them is the “Poro Society”. The significance allotted to the “Bondo” Society (Female Genital Mutilation) for women is the same relevance ascribed to the “Poro” Society for men. However, the Poro Society is yet to be placed in the spotlight of dangerous rituals in Sierra Leone due to consistent cover-up of imminent scandals.
Practised among many ethnic groups in the country such as Temnes, Mendes, Sherbros, Konos, and many others, Poro was seen as a breeding ground for young initiates to be transformed into manhood. However, it is now being practised with so much exuberance and radicalism which has caused this secret society to have crossed the line in violating human rights with apparent impunity. Credible sources say that the Society is well protected by its prominent members who are well-placed in all walks of life: from the Forces to the Judiciary, on to the vast political class.
During Poro celebrations, members of this secret society prowl unsuspecting people, who are not initiates, in their communities. Men, both young and old, are conscripted into the secret society while women and children are forced to stay indoors until whenever the ceremony ends. Such conscription transcends every man that the members of the Poro could lay their hands on irrespective of being an indigene or not, regardless of any form of resistance. This has caused many indigenes to flee their communities and never return due to the fact that they are prone to be conscripted any time they return at whatever age.
In 2016, for instance, in Makeni Town in the Nothern Region of the country, the Poro Society had an initiation ceremony which prompted members of the secret society to go on the rampage and capture many grown-up men as they usually do in every initiation season. The ceremony lasted for three weeks but unfortunately, four (4) of the initiates never returned to their loved ones neither were they among their fellow initiates that graduated. Though some initiates whispered that those four initiates died during the rigorous initiation process, they were all scared of helping the police with the investigation. Even the Investigating Officers halted the investigation few weeks later in a bid to “protect” their jobs.
It is also reported by police Superintendent Amadu Mohamed Turay, in July 2016, that the entire township of Bonthe came under attack by members of the Poro society led by one Michael Palmer who was arrested alongside twelve others. They were also reported to have attacked the Maritime Wing Base (Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces) in Bonthe. Two days later, these attackers were released from custody.
Furthermore, Awareness Times reported in May 2017 that seven men were accused of allegedly murdering one Mohamed Taimeh and the case has been committed to the High Court of Sierra Leone. It is alleged that these men tortured Taimeh to death under the guise of forcefully taking him to the sacred bush for initiation.
In the interior of Bombali District, community people are not only forced to stay indoors, their properties are also stolen by members of the Poro and that act is considered “legal”. Complaining to the police about such acts is futile as no disciplinary action has ever been taken against the perpetrators; rather the complainants are sometimes intimidated to self-exile.
Another disheartening situation, according to traders, miners, farmers, etc, is when business houses are forced to close, even in the afternoon, whenever the Poro members are out to celebrate. In spite of several cries from these people that this act is depriving them of their economic activities, their cries seem to be falling on deaf ears.
Religion is also affected whenever there is Poro initiation. The activities of Poro members, sometimes, coincide with prayer sessions of Muslims and Christians and worshippers are not allowed to take part in congregational prayers in either mosques or churches. Some members of the affected communities would prefer to escape to where they can enjoy freedom to practice their religions until when the Poro initiation is over. This has caused so much inconvenience among non-Poro members.
As a democratic state, everyone has the inalienable right to enjoy his/her freedom and human rights without hindrance. However, traditional and cultural practices have deprived many people of those freedoms and human rights and the authorities seemed to be taking those violations for granted.