One Country;One People -The Vision of Revrend Etheldred Nathaniel Jones -AKA Lamina Sankoh

 

The slogan “One Country, One People” resonates deeply within Sierra Leone's national consciousness. Coined by Rev. Etheldred Nathaniel Jones, later known as Lamina Sankoh, this phrase transcends mere political rhetoric, embodying a profound vision of unity rooted in shared history, culture, and identity. In a nation marked by ethnic diversity and historical divisions, understanding the common threads that bind its people is essential for fostering genuine national cohesion.

 Rev. Lamina Sankoh’s Vision of Unity

Rev. Lamina Sankoh, born Etheldred Nathaniel Jones in 1884, was a Sierra Leonean clergyman, educator, and political activist. Educated at Fourah Bay College and later at the University of Oxford, Sankoh underwent a significant transformation during his studies abroad. Embracing pan-African ideals, he adopted Lamina Sankoh, symbolizing a commitment to African identity and unity (Wikipedia, n.d.-a). In 1948, Lamina Sankoh founded the People's Party, which later evolved into the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), advocating for a unified national identity transcending ethnic and regional divisions.

Sankoh’s slogan, “One Country, One People,” encapsulated his belief in the inherent interconnectedness of Sierra Leone's diverse communities. He envisioned a nation where shared histories, cultures, and values would serve as the foundation for unity, countering the divisive legacies of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.

 Surnames as Connective Tissue Across Ethnic Lines

Sierra Leone's rich tapestry of ethnic groups—including Temne, Mende, Limba, Loko, Kuranko, Susu, Yalunka, and Krio—shares a surprising commonality: surnames that transcend ethnic boundaries. Names such as Kamara, Koroma, Bangura, Sesay, Kanu, Fofanah, and Jalloh are prevalent across various communities and regions (Forebears, n.d..).

These surnames often trace back to Islamic scholarship, chieftaincy, or Mandé clan systems that predate European colonial boundaries. The widespread adoption of these names across ethnic groups highlights the fluidity of identity and the interwoven nature of Sierra Leone's social landscape. These names have become pan-Sierra Leonean identifiers through intermarriage, religious affiliation, and migration, bridging the rural-urban divide, class distinctions, and ethnic boundaries.

 Place Names Reflecting Shared Memory and Settlement Patterns

Recalling place names such as “Sumbuya” across multiple districts and ethnic zones illustrates historical memory and cultural continuity. Many of these names have Mandé linguistic origins but are shared by Temne, Loko, and Mende communities, reflecting centuries of shared migration, trade, and sacred settlement (Wikipedia, n.d.-b).

These shared place names are not arbitrary—they often signify strategic settlements, Poro and Sande society locations, and spiritual centers. In this way, the landscape becomes a collective memory map, echoing the shared experiences and values that tie communities together despite surface differences.

 Historical Roots of Unity in Diversity

Before colonialism, the region now known as Sierra Leone was a vibrant mosaic of intermingling ethnicities connected through trade, Islam, and shared ritual institutions. Mandé, Fulani, and Senegambian cultural traditions overlapped, and identity was more flexible, based on spiritual society membership, kinship, or religious practice rather than fixed ethnic lines (Wikipedia, n.d.-c).

The colonial system imposed artificial ethnic categories for governance and resource control, entrenching a divide-and-rule framework that lingers today. Reviving the precolonial ethos of fluid identity and cultural interdependence is central to Sankoh’s vision of national unity.

 The Slogan as a Call to Cultural Memory

“One Country, One People” functions not just as a nationalist mantra but as a call to remember the threads of shared ancestry and cultural overlap that bind Sierra Leoneans. From Kamara to Kallon, from Kambia to Kenema, some links transcend tribal identities. These names, places, and rituals represent a collective identity long obscured by colonialism and political opportunism.

When a Jalloh from Bombali and a Jalloh from Bo recognize kinship through name, they reaffirm a lineage that predates imposed divisions. Cultural memory—captured in naming patterns, sacred locations, and communal rites—becomes the basis for reimagining the nation as a mosaic of shared belonging.

Surnames and Place Names: Foundations of “One People”

The convergence of shared surnames and place names forms a living architecture of unity in diversity—an anthropological and historical basis for “One Country, One People.”

Symbol	Function	Contribution to Unity
Shared Surnames	Lineage, faith, and status symbols	Bridges across ethnic identities
Common Place Names	Settlement and sacred geography	Interethnic historical memory
Ritual Systems (Poro/Sande)	Social structures that cut across ethnicity	Embeds collective values and communal roles
Islamic Naming & Language	Borrowings and fusion across traditions	Encourages mutual respect and intelligibility

These elements form the invisible fabric of Sierra Leonean society—a subtle but powerful web of connection that counters narratives of division.

Reclaiming the True Meaning of Unity

In today’s political climate, the phrase “One Country, One People” is often used rhetorically, stripped of its historical and philosophical weight. Yet Rev. Lamina Sankoh’s vision remains urgently relevant. Reclaiming the cultural memory embedded in shared surnames and place names, Sierra Leoneans can move beyond tribalism and toward a more inclusive national identity.

The future of Sierra Leone lies not in erasing its diversity but in embracing it as part of a shared story—a story written in the names people carry, the places they inhabit, and the values they hold in common. To truly honour the spirit of “One Country, One People” is to recognize that unity does not mean sameness but a commitment to a shared purpose rooted in a deep and interconnected past.

Examples of Family Tree-Style Chart of Shared Surnames Across Ethnic Lines in Sierra Leone, Guinea, & Liberia

 

Surname	Variants	Origin	Meaning / Significance	Ethnic Spread	Cultural/Religious Significance
Kamara	–	Mandé	Associated with traders, griots, or Islamic scholars	Mende, Temne, Loko, Koranko, Susu, Limba	Common in Muslim communities; linked to commerce and clerical lineages
Koroma	–	Mandé	Possibly from koro (town) + ma (mother/founder)	Temne, Mende, Loko, Limba	Often linked to chieftaincy or founding clans
Kabba / Kabbah	–	Mandé / Senegambian	Possibly means “strong” or “first”	Temne, Mandinka, Loko, Krio	Found in royal and religious lineages
Bangura	–	Mandé	Possibly a title or place-based lineage	Mende, Temne, Loko	Very common; often Islamic clerics or traders
Sesay	–	Temne-Mandé	Possibly from Sissé or Sissoko; Islamicized lineage	Temne, Loko, Koranko	Prestigious in Islamic circles; often elite status
Barrie / Barry	–	Fulani	Fulɓe clan name; tied to Islamic scholarship	Yalunka, Kuranko, Susu, Temne	Prominent maraboutic (clerical) families
Bah	–	Fulani	From baa = cow (symbol of wealth); pastoralist origin	Fulani, Kuranko, Yalunka	Common among cattle-herding communities; respected status
Fofanah	–	Mandé / Fulani	Possibly from fafa (peace); Islamic lineage	Temne, Mende, Kuranko, Loko, Susu	Tied to Islamic education and elite families
Jalloh / Diallo	–	Fulani / Mandé	High-ranking maraboutic surname	Fulani, Susu, Yalunka, Mandinka	Widespread; known as religious authorities
Conteh	–	Temne / Senegambian	Possibly a title; now widespread	Temne, Loko, some Mende	Linked to traditional authority
Kargbo	–	Temne	Local clan or social lineage name	Temne, Loko	Often associated with leadership and land rights
Sankoh	–	Mandé	May denote warrior lineage or founder status	Mende, Temne, Loko	Prominent in resistance narratives and political leadership
Turay / Touré	–	Mandé	One of the oldest noble clan names	Temne, Mende, Krio, Susu	Noble status; historically leaders and warriors
Kallon	–	Mandé (localized)	Localized noble name in southern Sierra Leone	Mende, Temne, Loko, Krio	Prominent in Poro/Sande regions; possible chieftaincy title
Kone / Koné	–	Mandinka / Mandé	Noble warrior clan; one of the 16 Mandinka clans	Kuranko, Susu, Mandinka, Mende	Associated with kingship, warriors, elite status
Kane	–	Mandé / Fulani	From Soninke and Fula Islamic clerical lineages	Yalunka, Kuranko, Fula, Mandinka	Associated with Islamic scholarship (marabouts)
Mansaré / Mansaray	–	Mandé (Susu / Malinké)	Derived from Mansa (king); royal name	Susu, Yalunka, Kuranko, Temne	Indicates noble status or Islamic elite
Njakité / Diakité	–	Mandé	From Jatigi = guest/stranger; noble warrior class	Kuranko, Susu, Mandinka	One of the original Mandinka noble clans
Kanu	–	Temne / Senegambian	Possibly linked to ruling lineage in Temne chiefdoms	Temne, Loko, Mende, Krio	Popular among northern chieftaincies
Sarakule / Serakhulle / Soninke	–	Soninke / Mandé	Ethnonym for trading and Islamic caste	Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone	Founding group in Ghana Empire; traders, clerics
Jabbi	–	Mandé / Fulani	Possibly from Jabi clan; maraboutic lineage	Mandinka, Yalunka, Kuranko, Fulani	Associated with Islamic teachers and griots
Naji	–	Arabic / Fulani	“Saved” or “survivor” in Arabic; adopted in Islamic naming	Muslim Fula, Mandinka, Krio (converts)	May denote pilgrimage status or Qur’anic education
Swarray / Souaré	Souarey, Swareh, Suaray	Mandé / Fulani	Noble or scholarly lineage; often marabouts	Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal	Strong association with Islamic scholarship and high social status

 

 References

Forebears. (n.d.). Sierra Leonean Surnames. https://forebears.io/sierra-leone/surnames

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.-a). Lamina Sankoh. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamina_Sankoh

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.-b). History of Sierra Leone. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sierra_Leone

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.-c). Sande society. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sande_society

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.-d). Sierra Leone People’s Party. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_People%27s_Party