Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone

The chiefdoms of Sierra Leone are the third-level units of administration in Sierra Leone. There are 190 chiefdoms in Sierra Leone, as of 2017. Previously, there were 149.

History and organisation
The paramount chiefs and the ruling families in the chiefdoms were recognised and empowered by the British colonial administration when it organised the Protectorate of Sierra Leone in 1896. Typically, chiefs have the power to "raise taxes, control the judicial system, and allocate land, the most important resource in rural areas."

The hereditary paramount chiefs and their sub-chiefs were the sole local government in Sierra Leone until 2004, when the World Bank sponsored the creation of elected local councils. Local notables, known as the Tribal Authority, elect paramount chiefs for life from among the ruling families in each chieftaincy recognised by the British administration in 1896.

Some chieftaincies have several ruling families, and the differences among them in terms of economic progress has been subject to study in 2013. They found there was a positive relationship between the number of ruling families in a chieftaincy and educational, health and economic outcomes in terms of human capital.

The districts of Sierra Leone were divided into 149 chiefdoms of chieftaincies until 2017, as listed below as of 2011. Since 2017, they have been divided into 190 chiefdoms.

Kailahun District

 * 1) Dea – Baiwala
 * 2) Jaluahun – Segbwema
 * 3) Jawei – Daru
 * 4) Kissi Kama – Dea
 * 5) Kissi Teng – Kangama
 * 6) Kissi Tongi – Buedu
 * 7) Luawa – Kailahun
 * 8) Malema – Jojoima
 * 9) Mandu – Mobai
 * 10) Peje Bongre – Manowa
 * 11) Peje West – Bunumbu
 * 12) Penguia – Sandar
 * 13) Upper Bambara – Pendembu
 * 14) Yawei – Bandajuma

Kenema District

 * 1) Dama – Giema
 * 2) Dodo – Dodo
 * 3) Gaura – Joru
 * 4) Gorama Mende – Tungie
 * 5) Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
 * 6) Koya – Baoma
 * 7) Langurama Ya – Baima
 * 8) Lower Bambara – Panguma
 * 9) Malehgohun – Sembehun
 * 10) Niawa – Sundumei
 * 11) Nomo – Faama
 * 12) Nongowa – Kenema
 * 13) Simbaru – Boajibu
 * 14) Small Bo – Blama
 * 15) Tunkia – Gorahun
 * 16) Wandor – Faala

Kono District

 * 1) Fiama – Njagbwema
 * 2) Gbane Kandor – Koardu
 * 3) Gbane – Ngandorhun
 * 4) Gbense – Yardu
 * 5) Gorama Kono – Kangama
 * 6) Kamara – Tombodu
 * 7) Lei – Siama
 * 8) Mafindor – Kamiendor
 * 9) Nimikoro – Njaiama
 * 10) Nimiyama – Sewafe
 * 11) Sandor – Kayima
 * 12) Soa – Kainkordu
 * 13) Tankoro – New Sembehun
 * 14) Toli – Kondewakor

Bombali District

 * 1) Biriwa – Kamabai
 * 2) Bombali Shebora – Makeni
 * 3) Gbanti Kamaranka – Kamaranka
 * 4) Gbendembu Ngowahun – Kalangba
 * 5) Libeisaygahun – Batkanu
 * 6) Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa
 * 7) Makari Gbanti – Masongbon
 * 8) Paki Massabong – Mapaki
 * 9) Safroko Limba – Binkolo
 * 10) Sanda Loko – Kamalo
 * 11) Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi
 * 12) Sella Limba – Kamakwie
 * 13) Tambakha – Fintonia

Koinadugu District

 * 1) Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
 * 2) Diang – Kondembaia
 * 3) Folasaba – Musaia
 * 4) Kasunko – Fadugu
 * 5) Mongo – Bendugu
 * 6) Neya – Krubola
 * 7) Nieni – Yiffin
 * 8) Sengbe – Yogomaia
 * 9) Sulima – Falaba
 * 10) Wara-Wara Bafodia – Bafodea
 * 11) Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria

Tonkolili District

 * 1) Gbonkolenken – Yele
 * 2) Kafe Simiria – Mabonto
 * 3) Kalanthuba – Kamankay
 * 4) Dansogoia - Bumbuna
 * 5) Kholifa Mabang - Mabang
 * 6) Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka
 * 7) Kunike – Masingbi
 * 8) Kunike Barina – Makali
 * 9) Malal Mara – Rochin
 * 10) Sambaia – Bendugu
 * 11) Tane – Matotoka
 * 12) Yoni – Yonibana

Kambia District

 * 1) Brimaia – Kukuna
 * 2) Gbinle Dixing – Tawuya
 * 3) Magbema – Kambia
 * 4) Mambolo – Mambolo
 * 5) Masungbala – Kawula
 * 6) Samu – Kychum
 * 7) Tonko Limba – Madina

Port Loko District

 * 1) Bureh – Mange
 * 2) Buya Romende – Foredugu
 * 3) Debia – Gbinti
 * 4) Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
 * 5) Kasseh – Mahera
 * 6) Koya – Songo
 * 7) Loko Masama – Petifu
 * 8) Maconteh – Unknown
 * 9) Maforki – Port Loko
 * 10) Marampa – Lunsar
 * 11) Masimera – Masimera
 * 12) Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
 * 13) T.M. Safroko – Miraykulay

Bo District

 * 1) Badjia – Ngelehun
 * 2) Bagbo – Jimmi
 * 3) Bagbwe – Ngarlu
 * 4) Baoma – Baoma
 * 5) Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
 * 6) Gbo – Gbo
 * 7) Jaiama Bongor – Telu
 * 8) Kakua – Bo town
 * 9) Komboya – Njala
 * 10) Lugbu – Sumbuya
 * 11) Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
 * 12) Selenga – Dambala
 * 13) Tikonko – Tikonko
 * 14) Valunia – Mongere
 * 15) Wonde – Gboyama

Bonthe District

 * 1) Bendu – Cha Bendu
 * 2) Bum – Madina
 * 3) Dema – Tissana
 * 4) Imperri – Gbangbama
 * 5) Jong – Mattru
 * 6) Kpanda – Kemo Motuo
 * 7) Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
 * 8) Nongoba Bullom – Gbap
 * 9) Sittia – Yonni
 * 10) Sogbini – Tihun
 * 11) Yawbeko – Talia

Moyamba District

 * 1) Bagruwa – Sembehun
 * 2) Bumpe – Rotifunk
 * 3) Dasse – Mano
 * 4) Fakunya – Gandohun
 * 5) Kagboro – Shenge
 * 6) Kaiyamba – Moyamba
 * 7) Kamajei – Senehun
 * 8) Kongbora – Bauya
 * 9) Kori – Taiama
 * 10) Kowa – Njama
 * 11) Lower Banta – Gbangbatoke
 * 12) Ribbi – Bradford
 * 13) Timdale – Bomotoke
 * 14) Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

 * 1) Barri – Potoru
 * 2) Gallines Perri – Blama
 * 3) Kpaka – Masam
 * 4) Kpanga Kabonde – Pujehun town
 * 5) Makpele – Zimmi
 * 6) Malen – Sahn
 * 7) Mano Sa Krim – Gbonjema
 * 8) Kpanga Krim – Gobaru
 * 9) Peje – Futta
 * 10) Sorogbema – Fairo
 * 11) Sowa – Bandajuma
 * 12) Yakemo Kpukumu Krim – Karlu

Kailahun District

 * 1) Dea – Baiwala
 * 2) Jahn – ?
 * 3) Jaluahun – Segbwema
 * 4) Jawei – Daru
 * 5) Kissi Kama – Dea
 * 6) Kissi Teng – Kangama
 * 7) Kissi Tongi – Buedu
 * 8) Luawa – Kailahun
 * 9) Malema – Jojoima
 * 10) Mandu – Mobai
 * 11) Peje Bongre – Manowa
 * 12) Peje West – Bunumbu
 * 13) Penguia – Sandar
 * 14) Upper Bambara – Pendembu
 * 15) Yawei – Bandajuma
 * Notes:

Kenema District

 * 1) Dama – Giema
 * 2) Dodo – Dodo
 * 3) Gaura – Joru
 * 4) Gorama Mende – Tungie
 * 5) Kandu Leppiam – Gbado
 * 6) Koya – Baoma
 * 7) Langurama Ya – Baima
 * 8) Lower Bambara – Panguma
 * 9) Malegohun – Sembehun
 * 10) Niawa – Sundumei
 * 11) Nomo – Faama
 * 12) Nongowa – ?
 * 13) Simbaru – Boajibu
 * 14) Small Bo – Blama
 * 15) Tunkia – Gorahun
 * 16) Wando – Faala
 * 17) Kenema City – Kenema
 * Notes:

Kono District

 * 1) Fiama – Njagbwema
 * 2) Gbane Kandor – Koardu
 * 3) Gbane – Ngandorhun
 * 4) Gbense – Yardu
 * 5) Gorama Kono – Kangama
 * 6) Kamara – Tombodu
 * 7) Lei – Siama
 * 8) Mafindor – Kamiendor
 * 9) Nimikoro – Njaiama
 * 10) Nimiyama – Sewafe
 * 11) Sandor – Kayima
 * 12) Soa – Kainkordu
 * 13) Tankoro – Bayama Tankoo
 * 14) Toli – Kondewakor
 * 15) Koidu Town – Koidu
 * Notes:

Bombali District

 * 1) Biriwa – Kamabai
 * 2) Bombali Shebora – ?
 * 3) Bombali Siari – ?
 * 4) Gbanti – ?
 * 5) Gbendembu – ?
 * 6) Kamaranka – Kamaranka
 * 7) Magbaiamba Ndowahun – Hunduwa
 * 8) Makari – Masongbon
 * 9) Mara – ?
 * 10) Ngowahun – Kalangba
 * 11) Paki Massabong – Mapaki
 * 12) Safroko Limba – Binkolo
 * 13) Makeni City – Makeni
 * Notes:

Falaba District

 * 1) Delemandugu – ?
 * 2) Dembelia – Musaia
 * 3) Dembelia Sikunia – Sikunia
 * 4) Folasaba – ?
 * 5) Kamadu Yiraia – ?
 * 6) Kebelia – ?
 * 7) Kulor Saradu – ?
 * 8) Mongo – Bendugu
 * 9) Morfindugu – ?
 * 10) Neya – Krubola
 * 11) Nyedu – ?
 * 12) Sulima – Falaba
 * 13) Wollay Barawa – ?
 * Notes:

Koinadugu District

 * 1) Diang – Kondembaia
 * 2) Gbonkobon Kayaka – ?
 * 3) Kalian – ?
 * 4) Kamukeh' – ?
 * 5) Kasunko KaKellian – ?
 * 6) Nieni – Yiffin
 * 7) Sengbe – Yogomaia
 * 8) Tamiso – Fadugu
 * 9) Wara-Wara Bafodea – Bafodea
 * 10) Wara-Wara Yagala – Gbawuria
 * Notes:

Tonkolili District

 * 1) Dansogoia – Bumbuna
 * 2) Gbonkolenken Masankong – Yele
 * 3) Kafe – ?
 * 4) Kalanthuba – ?
 * 5) Kholifa Mabang – Mabang
 * 6) Kholifa Mamuntha Mayosso – ?
 * 7) Kholifa Rowalla – Magburaka
 * 8) Kunike Barina – Makali
 * 9) Kunike Folawusu – ?
 * 10) Kunike Sanda – Masingbi
 * 11) Malal – Rochin
 * 12) Mayeppoh – ?
 * 13) Poli – ?
 * 14) Sambaia – Bendugu
 * 15) Simiria – Mabonto
 * 16) Tane – Matotoka
 * 17) Yele – ?
 * 18) Yoni Mabanta – ?
 * 19) Yoni Mamaila – Yonibana
 * Notes:

Kambia District

 * 1) Briama – Kukuna
 * 2) Dixing – Mafaray
 * 3) Gbinle – Tawuya
 * 4) Khonimakha – Kabaya
 * 5) Magbema – Kambia
 * 6) Mambolo – Mambolo
 * 7) Masungbala – Kawula
 * 8) Munu Thala – Thala
 * 9) Samu – Kychum
 * 10) Tonko Limba – Madina
 * Notes:

Karene District

 * 1) Buya – ?
 * 2) Debia – Gbinti
 * 3) Gbanti – ?
 * 4) Libeisaygahun-Gbombahun – Batkanu
 * 5) Mafonda Makerembay – ?
 * 6) Romende – Foredugu
 * 7) Safroko – ?
 * 8) Sanda Loko – Kamalo
 * 9) Sanda Magbolontor – Sendugu
 * 10) Sanda Tenraren – Mateboi
 * 11) Sella Limba – Kamakwie
 * 12) Tambakha Simibungie – ?
 * 13) Tambakha Yobangie – Fintonia
 * Notes:

Port Loko District

 * 1) Bakeh Loko – ?
 * 2) Bureh – Mange
 * 3) Kaffu Bullom – Mahera
 * 4) Kamasondo – ?
 * 5) Kaseh – ?
 * 6) Koya – Songo
 * 7) Loko Massama – Petifu
 * 8) Maconteh – ?
 * 9) Maforki – ?
 * 10) Makama – Miraykulay
 * 11) Marampa – Lunsar
 * 12) Masimera – Masimera
 * 13) Tinkatopa – ?
 * 14) Port Loko City – Port Loko
 * Notes:

Bo District

 * 1) Badjia – Ngelehun
 * 2) Bagbo – Jimmi
 * 3) Bagbwe – Ngarlu
 * 4) Baoma – Baoma
 * 5) Bongor – Telu
 * 6) Bumpe–Gao – Bumpe
 * 7) Gbo – Gbo
 * 8) Jaiama – ?
 * 9) Kakua – Kakua
 * 10) Komboya – Njala
 * 11) Lugbu – Sumbuya
 * 12) Niawa Lenga – Nengbema
 * 13) Selenga – Dambala
 * 14) Tikonko – Tikonko
 * 15) Valunia – Mongere
 * 16) Wonde – Gboyama
 * 17) Bo City – Bo
 * Notes:

Bonthe District

 * 1) Bendu – Cha Bendu
 * 2) Bum – Madina
 * 3) Dema – Tissana
 * 4) Imperri – Gbangbama
 * 5) Jong – Mattru
 * 6) Kpanda Kemo – Kemo Motuo
 * 7) Kwamebai Krim – Benduma
 * 8) Nongoba Bullom – Gbap
 * 9) Sittia – Yonni
 * 10) Sogbini – Tihun
 * 11) Yawbeko – Talia
 * 12) Bonthe Urban – Bonthe
 * Notes:

Moyamba District

 * 1) Bagruwa – Sembehun
 * 2) Bumpe – Rotifunk
 * 3) Dasse – Mano
 * 4) Fakunya – Gandohun
 * 5) Kagboro – Shenge
 * 6) Kaiyamba – Moyamba
 * 7) Kamajei – Senehun
 * 8) Kongbora – Bauya
 * 9) Kori – Taiama
 * 10) Kowa – Njama
 * 11) Lower Banta – Gbangbatoke
 * 12) Ribbi – Bradford
 * 13) Timdale – Bomotoke
 * 14) Upper Banta – Mokelle

Pujehun District

 * 1) Barri – Potoru
 * 2) Gallines – ?
 * 3) Kagonde – ?
 * 4) Kpaka – Masam
 * 5) Kpanga – Pujehun
 * 6) Makpele – Zimmi
 * 7) Malen – Sahn
 * 8) Mano Sakrim – Gbonjema
 * 9) Panga Krim – Gobaru
 * 10) Peje – Futta
 * 11) Perri – Blama
 * 12) Soro Gbema – Fairo
 * 13) Sowa – Bandajuma
 * 14) Yekomo Kpukumu – Karlu
 * Notes: