Customs and etiquette in Sierra Leone
The photo location of the website is Sierra Leone, referred to as Sierra Leone, and Taiwan translates as the Republic of Sierra Leone. It is located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, surrounded by Guinea in the north and east, and bordered by Liberia in the southeast. The coastline is about 485 kilometers long. The terrain is high in the east and low in the west, with a ladder-like slope. Most of the territory is hilly and plateaus. In the northeast, Bintimani Mountain is 1945 meters above sea level, which is the highest peak in the country; in the west is plains; along the coast is swamps; there are many rivers and abundant water. Its capital is translated into Freetown in Chinese, but the literal translation in English is "Free City."
Sierra Leone has a tropical monsoon climate with high temperatures and rainfall. May to October is the rainy season, and November to April is the dry season. The average annual temperature is about 26℃. The temperature is the highest from February to May, and the highest outdoor temperature can reach above 40℃. The climate is the coolest from August to September, and the lowest temperature can reach around 15℃. The average annual precipitation is 2,000 - 5,000 mm, making it one of the countries with the most rainfall in West Africa.
Sierra Leone has a land area of approximately 71,740 square kilometers, a total population of approximately 7.07 million (2016 statistics), and a total of more than 20 ethnic groups. The Mandi people in the south are the largest, followed by the Thamni people in the north and central areas, each accounting for about 30% of the country's population; the Limba people account for 8.4%; and the Creoles of "free" black descent who immigrated from Britain and the United States account for 10%. The official language is English, and the main national languages are Mandy, Thimna, Limba and Creole.
The country is divided into 3 provinces and 1 district, namely North Province, South Province, East Province and West Area, where Freetown is located. There are 12 administrative districts under the three provinces, and 149 chiefdoms under the administrative districts. Its main cities are Bo, Kenema, Makeni, etc.
Sierra Leone was once a source of European slaves. Its people's living standards were low. It is now one of the poorest countries in the world. Whether it is in terms of purchasing power, health and longevity, or education level, it is among the lowest in the world. Construction is seriously inadequate, and most economic activities have collapsed due to civil war.
Due to its rich mineral resources, Sierra Leone's economy mainly relies on mining, especially diamond mining, which accounts for a large part. The most well-known one is the blood diamonds mined from Sierra Leone. Other mineral reserves in Sierra Leone are: bauxite reserves of 122 million tons, rutile reserves of about 100 million tons, and iron ore reserves of 200 million tons.
Most Sierra Leone people live a chiefdom and traditional farming life. Most houses in the city are low-rise buildings with porches in front of them. Traditional houses in the countryside are mainly round houses, most of which are huts. A small number of Sierra Leone people work in government departments or run small businesses.
handshake is a common way of greeting in Sierra Leone. I like to entertain friends in hotels and restaurants, and I especially like this method when treating business visitors. Small gifts can be given to local people as appropriate.
The costumes of people of all ethnic groups in Sierra Leone are relatively brightly colored. Men wear large gowns, and women wear flower turbans on their heads and flower skirts under them. Casual wear is suitable for most places. Men want to wear a suit and tie.
One-third of the staple food of working people in Sierra Leone is cassava. They generally eat a full meal of rice every night, and only cassava or sweet potatoes at noon. They also eat wild animals, wild birds and fish, and also have various vegetables and fruits.
The people of Sierra Leone are good at singing and dancing. They are almost always accompanied by dancing. The dance has a bright rhythm and a beautiful style. Important festivals include: Independence Day (April 27), Christmas, Rebirth Day and Eid Adha.
Tug-of-war is a popular sports activity among the people of Sierra Leone. There are also more than 200 tug-of-war enthusiast clubs across the country.
The funerals in Sierra Leone are grand and complex, and are mostly held in churches. Sierra Leone is a member of the British Commonwealth, and its etiquette is greatly influenced by Britain. Sierra Leone people believe in Islam and Christianity. When contacting the people of Sierra Leone, they must understand their religious beliefs clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
Special reminder: Sierra Leone is one of the least developed countries in the world. It has poor medical and health conditions. Infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis, and pneumonia are common, of which malaria has the highest incidence. Citizens I go to Serbia should pay attention to preventing mosquito bites and bring corresponding medicines. If necessary, they can go to our medical aid team in Freetown and local hospitals with better conditions for medical treatment. Moreover, Sierra Leone's infrastructure construction is quite backward. The supply of water, electricity, fuel, and daily necessities is tight and the prices remain high. You must be mentally prepared before going to Sierra Leone.