Bonthe history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the city of Bonthe is inextricably linked to Sherbro Island, on which it is located. Although the indigenous Sherbro people have inhabited these lands since ancient times, the settlement began to develop as a significant urban centre in the 19th century. During this period, the British administration selected this location as a strategic point for controlling the coast and developing legitimate commerce in Sierra Leone.

Key Factors of Establishment

The transformation of a small settlement into a thriving trading hub was driven by several important circumstances:

• Geography: Its location in the protected harbour of the Sherbro River estuary provided safe anchorage for sea vessels and convenient water access to the country's interior regions.
• Trade: The city became the region's main port for exporting valuable resources, particularly palm oil, palm kernels, and piassava (a durable plant fibre).
• Administrative Status: In the colonial era, Bonthe was one of the few settlements outside the capital to receive municipality status, which attracted officials and merchants here.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

During its prime, the city was distinguished by a lively economic life. Major European trading companies opened their trading posts and warehouses here. The cultural landscape was strongly shaped by the influence of Krio settlers: characteristic two-storey wooden houses in the colonial style were built here, and Christian missions were active. This unique architectural environment and blend of traditions created the special atmosphere of an old trading port, traces of which are visible even today.

Major Historical Milestones

• 17th–18th centuries — Sherbro Island serves as an important trading point for European merchants and the local Sherbro people.
• 1817–1820s — Beginning of active settlement of the territory by liberated slaves and Krio settlers, forming a unique culture.
• 1861 — Sherbro Island and the city of Bonthe are officially transferred to the British Crown by treaty, becoming a colonial possession.
• 1884 — A trading post of the famous company Paterson Zochonis (PZ) opens in the city, marking the beginning of economic prosperity.
• 1890s — The city turns into one of the busiest ports in West Africa, exporting palm oil and piassava.
• Early 20th century — Active infrastructure development: appearance of street lighting and running water, which was a rarity for the region at that time.
• 1939–1945 — During World War II, the harbour is used as a base for seaplanes and warships of the British fleet.
• 1961 — Sierra Leone gains independence, and the city becomes part of the new sovereign state.
• 1970s — Beginning of a gradual economic decline due to the silting of the port and the transfer of main trade routes to Freetown.
• 1980s — Cessation of industrial piassava export; the city reorients towards fishing and small-scale trade.
• 2000s — Confirmation of municipality status with its own mayor, which preserves administrative significance for the city.
• Present time — The city is developing as a tourist destination, attracting travellers with preserved colonial architecture and a tranquil atmosphere.

Stages of Urban and Cultural Development

The evolution of the city of Bonthe is a journey from a strategic trading post to a unique open-air historical monument. Each era brought changes that formed the modern, slightly nostalgic appearance of this place in Sierra Leone.

Key milestones of the city's transformation and their significance:

• Formation of colonial layout. In the 19th century, chaotic development was replaced by a clear grid of wide streets following the British model.
  Significance: This laid the foundation for the organized development of the city, ensuring convenient logistics for transporting goods to the port and creating a comfortable living environment.
• Architectural flourishing of the "Krio" style. Mass construction of characteristic two-storey houses with wooden verandas and stone bases.
  Significance: The city acquired its unique face. These buildings are today the main cultural heritage, attracting connoisseurs of colonial architecture.
• Infrastructure breakthrough of the early 20th century. Bonthe became one of the first cities in the region to have street lighting and a centralized water supply.
  Significance: The high level of improvement secured the city's status as an elite settlement, attracting wealthy merchants and the educated class.
• "Golden Age" of piassava export. The period when the city was a global centre for the trade of durable palm fibre.
  Significance: Economic prosperity allowed for investment in the social sphere, the construction of churches and schools, turning Bonthe into an educational centre of the country's south.
• Natural conservation of the historic centre. The decline in port activity due to river silting and the shift of trade routes in the second half of the 20th century.
  Significance: The absence of rapid industrial construction in recent decades saved the old quarters from demolition, preserving the 19th-century atmosphere almost intact.
• Reorientation towards tourism and fishing. The modern stage of development based on the use of natural and historical resources.
  Significance: The city is finding a new economic niche, transforming from a noisy trading port into a quiet and atmospheric place for cultural and ecological leisure.

Urban Structure and Layout

The urban appearance of the city of Bonthe was formed during the era of British colonial rule and represents a rare example of a 19th-century regular layout for West Africa. Unlike the spontaneous development of many neighbouring settlements, a clear grid scheme of streets was applied here.

• Wide avenues: Streets were designed unusually wide for their time, which provided natural ventilation in the hot tropical climate and convenience for transporting cargo to the port.
• Drainage system: To combat flooding in the low-lying terrain, a network of deep stone drains was created, many of which are still functioning.
• Zoning: Historically, the city was clearly divided into a commercial zone along the embankment, where warehouses and trading posts were located, and residential quarters extending deep into the island.

Architectural Styles and Eras

The city's architecture is a chronicle of its "golden age" frozen in time. The main housing stock and public buildings date back to the period from the mid-19th to the early 20th century.

Colonial style and Krio architecture (19th — early 20th c.)
The dominant style defining the city's atmosphere. It was introduced by Krio settlers who adapted Victorian traditions to the tropical conditions of Sierra Leone.
Characteristic features:

• Two-storey constructions: the ground floor was often made of stone or brick (for household needs and protection against dampness), and the residential first floor was made of wood.
• Spacious verandas and balconies, encircling the house, served as a place for rest and protected the interior rooms from direct sunlight.
• High pitched roofs, covered with corrugated iron or tiles, for the rapid drainage of tropical downpours.
• Decorative carved elements on cornices and window shutters.

Utilitarian port style (Late 19th c.)
Represented by massive warehouses and trading houses of European companies. These buildings were constructed from durable stone and concrete, with minimal decoration but with an emphasis on reliability and the safety of goods storage.

Landmark Buildings and Structures

Although many historical buildings have suffered from time and the humid climate, a number of objects retain their monumentality and form the unique landscape of the museum-city.

• St. Matthew’s Anglican Church: A majestic stone building serving as the architectural dominant and spiritual centre of the city. Its austere appearance refers to the traditions of English church architecture.
• PZ and CFAO Trading Houses: The ruins and preserved buildings of former trading posts (Paterson Zochonis and the French Company of West Africa) along the coastline serve as a reminder of the port's former commercial power.
• Traditional houses on Hadda Street: On this and neighbouring streets, ensembles of wooden houses in the Krio style are best preserved, creating the atmosphere of the colonial past.

Famous Personalities

The city of Bonthe and Sherbro Island played an important role in shaping the political elite of Sierra Leone. Thanks to its status as the oldest municipality and an educational centre, many statesmen who determined the country's fate were born, studied, or worked here.

• Sir Milton Margai
  Role: First Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, physician.
  Significance: The "Father of Independence" of the country. Before the start of his major political career, he served for a long time as a doctor in the Bonthe district. It was here that he introduced advanced medical practices and won the trust of local residents, which became the foundation of his future popularity.
• Sir Albert Margai
  Role: Second Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.
  Significance: A prominent politician and lawyer. He received his early years and primary education in Bonthe, studying at the famous St. Patrick's School, which was considered a training ground for the colonial administration and the future independent state.
• Julius Maada Bio
  Role: President of Sierra Leone.
  Significance: A native of the Bonthe district. His connection with the region remains very strong: he actively promotes the revival of Sherbro Island as an economic and tourist centre, drawing attention to its historical heritage.
• Solomon Berewa
  Role: Former Vice President and Attorney General.
  Significance: An outstanding lawyer and statesman born in this region. He made a significant contribution to the development of the country's legal system and always maintained close ties with his homeland.
• Dr. Sama Banya
  Role: Politician, physician, and publicist.
  Significance: Known by the pseudonym "Puawui", he is one of the oldest and most respected politicians in the country. Like many representatives of the intelligentsia of his generation, he received a fundamental education in the schools of Bonthe, which determined his further path.