Sierra Leone’s rich cultural diversity is vividly expressed through various art forms, including music and dance. The country is home to 16 distinct ethnic groups, each with unique musical styles, rhythms, instruments, and dance forms – as a result, the country becomes a very interesting destination for music and dance lovers.You’ll find music and dance everywhere in Sierra Leone – at social gatherings, festivals, celebrations, and ceremonies. They are more than just forms of entertainment; they become an integral component to the community, storytelling, and the preservation of ancestral customs.
Traditional Dance and Music from Sierra Leone
1. Musical Instruments of Sierra Leone
Traditional music in Sierra Leone often relies on instruments that have been crafted and used for centuries. Examples are the balangi, a wooden xylophone with resonating gourds, popular among the Mende people, or the kora, a stringed instrument resembling a guitar, often played by the Mandingo and Susu people both in celebrations and storytelling.Percussion instruments are also widely used – drums like the sikko and djembé are used to add rhythm to performance, together with the shekere, a rattle made with a calabash covered with beads.Each instrument holds symbolic meaning and purpose. For instance, the various kinds of drums represent unity and communication, and were used historically to transmit messages across villages or call communities together.
2. Traditional Dance in Sierra Leone
Dance plays a very important role in Sierra Leonean life and takes place in very different occasions, from marriage celebrations and rites of passage to harvest festivals and healing rituals. Similarly to music, different ethnic groups also have their distinct dance styles, each with unique meanings and symbolism, often related to the secret societies that still play a very important role in the culture of modern-day Sierra Leone.A popular dance is the Bondo dance, which is unique because it’s the only one performed just by women. It is accompanied by rhythmic drumming and singing and features expressive hand gestures and movements that embody feminine grace, strength, and solidarity. This dance has deep spiritual significance and is a way for women to assert their place in society, sharing wisdom and bonding across generations.Another interesting traditional dance is the devil dance carried out by men of the secret Gola Poro society, popular in Southern Sierra Leone. Witnessing either of these two traditional dances is a very intense and captivating cultural experience.Naturally, modern music such as pop, reggae and afrobeats is common throughout the country, especially in Freetown clubs.
