16 entries
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Bassa people
Kru-speaking farmers and coastal traders of the Mesurado–Cestos littoral.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Belle people
A small, densely forested enclave between Loma, Gola and Kpelle country.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Dei people
The people of Cape Mesurado itself — small in number, decisive in 1821–22.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Gbandi people
Southwestern Mande farmers and traders of the upper Lofa, holding the road between Loma country and the Gola forest.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Gio people
Masters of the mask, on the forested marches toward the Cavalla.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Gola people
Mel-speaking forest people of the Lofa–St Paul interior, custodians of a formidable Poro.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Grebo people
The people of Cape Palmas, with a layered civil and military constitution.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Kissi people
Wet-rice cultivators of the far north, and the makers of the kissi penny.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Kpelle people
The largest interior population, farming the high forest between the St Paul and the Ya.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Krahn people
Forest cultivators and hunters of the southeastern interior, far from the beaches.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Kru people
The seamen of the West African coast, indispensable and never enslaved by treaty.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Loma people
Smiths and weavers of the northern highlands, on the road to the Mande markets.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Mandingo people
Muslim traders and statesmen of the interior corridor, heirs of the Mali connection.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Mano people
Iron-working people of the Nimba highlands and the eastern forest.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Mende people
Southwestern Mande of the north-western borderland, whose expansion reshaped Poro and Sande across the Vai and Gola country.
Ethnic groups · pre-1822 and continuing
Vai people
Coastal Mande traders between Cape Mount and the Mano, later authors of the Vai script.