Makeni
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| Makeni | |
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  Makeni
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| Coordinates: 8°52′54″N 12°02′39″W / 8.88167°N 12.04417°W | |
| Country |  Sierra Leone |
| Province | Northern Province |
| District | Bombali District |
| Chiefdom | Bombali Shebora |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Moses Musa Sesay (APC) |
| Population | |
| - Total | 105,900 [1] |
| (estimate) | |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC-5) |
Makeni is the 5th largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Northern Province. The city is the capital of Bombali District and has a population of 105,900 [2]. Makeni serves as the economic, financial and cultural centers of northern Sierra Leone and is also one of the country's five major cities (along with Freetown, Bo, Kenema and Koidu Town). The city lies about 110 miles (177 km) north-east of the capital Freetown. Like in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the Krio language is the most widely spoken language in the city. The city is the hometown of the current Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma.
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[edit] Government
The city of Makeni is governed with a city council form of government, which is headed by a mayor, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all local and national laws are enforced. The mayor is elected directly by the residents of Makeni. The current mayor of Makeni is Moses Musa Sesay; who replaced Alhaji Andrew Kanu after the recently concluded Sierra Leone Local Government Elections in July 2008. He is a member of the ruling All People's Congress (APC). The city along with the entire Bombali District has always been a stronghold of the APC.
[edit] Sport
Makeni is home to one of Sierra Leone's biggest and oldest football clubs called the Wusum Stars. The club currently playing in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in the country. The club represents Makeni and the entire Bombali District. They won the Sierra Leonean FA Cup in 1979.
[edit] Media
The local radio station that serves Makeni and the Bombali District is Radio Mankneh 95.1. Sierra Leone's national radio and television stations, SLBS are on the air in the city, as well as The BBC World Service, CNN International, and several other private stations are on the air for those who have satellite.
[edit] Education
Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Makeni has an education system with six years of primary school (Class 1-6), and six years of secondary school (Form 1-6); secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Form 1-3) and Senior secondary school (Form 4-6). Primary schools usually start from ages 6 to 12, and secondary schools usually start from ages 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools.
[edit] Notable secondary schools in Makeni
| School | City | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| St. Francis Secondary School | Makeni | 1958 |
| UMC Secondary School | Makeni | 1940 |
[edit] Ethnicity
The population of Makeni is ethnically diverse, although the Limba and Temne make up the largest ethnic groups. The city has always been a stronghold of the ruling All People's Congress (APC).
[edit] Notable people from Makeni
- Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone
- Edward Turay, lawyer
- Brima Koroma, football star
- Daddi Cool, Sierra Leonean-born Guinean reggae musician
- Moses Musa Sesay, mayor of Makeni
- Mohamed Kamara, football star
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 08°52′54″N 12°02′39″W / 8.88167°N 12.04417°W
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