By: Janet Mumgbay Zizer
The poro society and the Moijueh’s family in Kenema. The disappearance of the last son (Mustapha Moijueh) of Chief Momoh Moijueh has been questioned by many members of the secret society.
The Poro, or Purrah or Purroh, is a men’s secret society in Sierra Leone introduced by the Mane people (the Mende Elites leading large-scale migrations from the Mali empire into the Southern and Eastern areas in Sierra Leone). It is sometimes referred to as a hunting society and only males are admitted to its ranks.
The entire native population is governed by its code of laws. It primarily represents a type of fraternal society to which even infants are temporarily admitted. The ceremony for them consists of carrying them into the ‘Poro’ bush for at least one or sometimes three months and out again.
There are also religious and civil aspects of the Poro. Under the former, boys join it at puberty in a rite of passage. Under its civil aspects, the society serves as a kind of native governing body, making laws, deciding on war and peace.
Chief Momoh Moijueh was head of the poro society in Kenema, after his controversial death during the political uprising in 2018 in Kenema, one of the sons supposed to take the position which by law it is the eldest son that should inherit the title. But this family (Moijueh) was devastated by the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone in 2014, most of them were killed by Ebola virus including the elder son. Mustapha was the only surviving son which everybody was looking up to for the title as replacement for his father role in the secret society. However, the young man was residing in the capital city Freetown going to school which his passion was education.
In April 2018 after the Presidential and Parliamentary elections there were too much political violence and intimidation in the country more especially in Freetown and the east part of the country which leads to many lost of lives and burning properties. The Moijueh family was highly connected to the APC political party and most of them were politically active in the then former president Koroma time. When the SLPP party was declared winner of the 2018 election, during this time many people left the country for safety more especially the APC supporters.
There are speculations that Mustapha fled the country for safety while other rumours suggest that he was killed during the prison break in 2019, because many people were held as political prisoners after 2018 election.
However, even if he returned today to his home town Kenema, he will be punished for abandoning his traditional duties. By law if you explain the poro secret society to non poro members or you abandon initiation the punishment is death. Off recent many NGOs and Civil Society organizations have condemned the forceful initiation which has led to many deaths across the country.
The doubt still remains among many people in Kenema whether Mustapha Moijueh is still alive or dead.