Moyamba District

Moyamba District
Location of Moyamba District in Sierra Leone
Coordinates: 8°00′N 12°30′W
Country	Sierra Leone
Province	Province
Capital	Moyamba
Largest city	Moyamba
Government
• Type	District Council
• Council Chairman	David Woobay (SLPP)
Area
• Total	6,902 km2 (2,665 sq mi)
Population (2004 census)
• Total	260,910
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC-5)

Moyamba District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 260,910 in the 2004 census. Its capital and largest city is Moyamba. The other major towns include Njala, Rotifunk and Shenge. The district is the largest in the Southern Province by geographical area, occupying a total area of 6,902 km² (2,665 sq mi) and comprises fourteen chiefdoms.

Moyamba District borders the Atlantic Ocean in the west, Port Loko District and Tonkolili District to the north, Bo District to the east and Bonthe District to the south.

The district has a history of producing some of Sierra Leone's most prominent politicians, including Sir Milton Margai, who led Sierra Leone to independence in 1961 and became the nation's first prime minister from 1964 to 1967; Siaka Stevens, Sierra Leone's president from 1971 to 1985; John Karefa-Smart, one of Sierra Leone's most prominent political figure and leader of the United National People's Party (UNPP); and John Akar, a Sierra Leonean entertainer, writer, and journalist, who composed the music of Sierra Leone's National Anthem.

The main economic activities include mining (rutile and bauxite), fishing, rice growing and oil palm plantations.

The largest ethnic groups in the district are the Mende, Sherbro and Limba.

Notable people from Moyamba District

• Sir Albert Margai, attorney-at-law who became second Prime Minister of Sierra Leone from 1964 to 1967
• Siaka Stevens, first President of Sierra Leone.
• Sir Milton Margai, medical doctor who led Sierra Leone to independence in 1961, and became nation's first prime minister from 1961 to 1964
• John Karefa-Smart, one of Sierra Leone's most prominent political figure and leader of the United National People's Party
• John Akar, Sierra Leonean diplomat, speaker and lyricist.
• Tinga Seisay, Sierra Leonean diplomat and pro-democracy activist.
• Banja Tejan-Sie, Sierra Leone chief justice, speaker of the house of parliament and attorney general from 1967 to 1968.