Magburaka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Magburaka
Magburaka is located in Sierra Leone
Magburaka
Location in Sierra Leone
Coordinates: 8°43′1″N 11°56′36″W / 8.71694°N 11.94333°W / 8.71694; -11.94333Coordinates: 8°43′1″N 11°56′36″W / 8.71694°N 11.94333°W / 8.71694; -11.94333
Country Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Sierra Leone
Province Northern Province
District Tonkolili District
Government
 - City council charman John Amadu Serry APC
Population (2004 census)
 - Total 16,313
Time zone GMT (UTC-5)

Magburaka is the capital and largest city of Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is the second largest city in the Northern Province after Makeni and the 6th largest city in Sierra Leone with a population of 16,313 in the 2004 census[1]. Current estimates of the population vary from under 15,000 to as high as 100,000, though this high estimate probably includes the surrounding district. It is located at around 8°43′1″N 11°56′36″W / 8.71694°N 11.94333°W / 8.71694; -11.94333, along the Rokel River. Magburaka lies just about 26 miles (42 km) drive south-west of Makeni, the economic center of Northern Sierra Leone and about 80  miles (135 km) drive east of the country's capital Freetown.[2]

Magburaka is the educational center of Northern Sierra Leone. The city is home to the Magburaka Government Secondary School for Boys, the first western standard Secondary school built in the North. The school is one of the elite secondary schools in Sierra Leone and is well known for producing some of the most gifted students in the country, including Sierra Leone's current president Ernest Bai Koroma. The city is home to the Magburaka Technical Institute, a two year technical college that awards diplomas and certificates in areas such as Engineering, Electrician, Carpentry and Plumbing. Magburaka is home to a significant number of most of the country's ethnic group. The most widely spoken language among the residents in the city is the Krio language.

The city has a football club called the Golden Dragon F.C., which is currently playing in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in the country.

Contents

[edit] Government

The city of Magburaka is governed by a city council which is headed by a mayor in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city, and is elected directly by the residents of Magburaka. . The city along with the entire Tonkolili District is a stronghold of the APC.

[edit] Education

Magburaka is the educational center of Northern Sierra Leone. The city is home to the Magburaka Government Secondary School for Boys, the first Secondary school built in Northern Sierra Leone; the school is one of the elite secondary schools in Sierra Leone and is well known for producing some of the most gifted students in the country.the city is also home to the first Girls Secondary School in the North, Mathora.

[edit] Sport

Like the rest of Sierra Leone, football is the most popular sport in Magburaka. The major football club that represent the city and the entire Tonkolili District is the Golden Dragon F.C., which is currently playing in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in the country.

[edit] Notable people from Magburaka

  • Minkailu Bah, Sierra Leone's minister of Education, Youth and Sports
  • Mohammad Rashid, football star
  • Osman Deen, Class of 1996, Government Secondary School for Boys. Financial Advisor, J.P.Morgan Chase & Co.

Dr. John M Kabia (JMK), Programme Worker, Survivors for Peace

[edit] Transport

[edit] References

  1. ^ Republic of Sierra Leone: 2004 Population and Housing Census: Analytical Report on Population Distribution, Migration and Urbanisation in Sierra Leone.
    Ibrahim Mohamed Sesay, Andrew A. Karam, Jinnah J. Ngobeh. Published November 2006.
  2. ^ http://www.travelpost.com/AF/Sierra_Leone/Northern/Magburaka/1857034