About Us
KASONKO CHIEFDOM – GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
Kasonko Chiefdom of Koinadugu District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone is rich in history, traditions, culture and natural resources. Her people are illustrious and imaginative. Before the eleven years old rebel war, they were renowned for hard work and self-reliance. This in many ways had contributed to their being less dependant on the central government for their socio-economic well-being and development.
CHIEFDOM LOCATION AND COMPOSITION
Kasonko Chiefdom is strategically located in the western part of Koinadugu District. She is the main entrance of Kabala, the headquarter town and the main administrative Centre of the district. She is one of the eleven (11) Chiefdoms forming the Koinadugu district. Its unique location as the only main access point to the district, offers the chiefdom with great strategic advantages.
Historically this strategic location has exposed the area to mixed and varied experiences from pre-colonial rule, colonial rule, and independence and to present day Republican rule. In particular, most parts of the chiefdom interacted and tasted mixed cultural experience through inter-tribal marriages and trade. In fact from time in memorial, the very ethnic and tribal composition of the chiefdom makes it the “melting pot” of the eleven chiefdoms of the district (Koinadugu).Inside the district, the chiefdom share boundaries with three chiefdoms namely Dian chiefdom, Wara-Wara chiefdom and Wara-Wara Bafodia chiefdom. It also shares boundaries with other five (5) chiefdoms in the Bombali and Tonkolili districts. That is Beriwa, Sandaloko, Tambakha and Sella Limba chiefdoms of the Bombali district, and Kalansogia of the Tonkolili district. The chiefdom is also connected to the northern boarder of our neighboring sister country of the Republic of Guinea
COMPOSITION
The chiefdom is composed of eight (8) section administrative units. They are:
1) Kasunko section
2) Kakelay section
3) Kagbokobo section
4) Kayaka section
5) Tamiso (I) section
6) Tamiso (II) section
7) Mandingo section
8) Fullah section
The chiefdom is also composed of 14 major towns and 78 villages with an estimate of 3,978 farm families of which 90% are vulnerable farm families due to the eleven years rebel war. (2003S/L Governance/FAO estimate)
THE PEOPLE
The people of Kasunko chiefdom are made up of mainly Limba, Mandingo and Fullah tribes. Other minority tribes presence in the chiefdom is Temne and Koranko. The Limbas are the indigenous and major ethnic group. The Chiefdom, according to 2004 Population estimates, has a total population of almost 23, 135
The culture of the people is based on local traditional values and institutions like the Gbodokali and Bondo societies for men and women respectively. There are also the Mathoma, Magbedigulu and Kukanta dances supported by various ‘masked” devils. However it should be noted that this culture has been variously influenced and in some cases modified by Islamic and Christian Religious practices that pervade the whole chiefdom.
The love for their traditions while fully embracing the modern way of life, in particular the pursuit of high educational values, freedom of warship and association has provided a solid base for consolidating them into one unifying force and an inseparable block of a kind.
ECONOMY
The economy of this chiefdom is one of the better diversified, strong and potentially rich in the district. Presently it is an agriculturally based economy. There is a potential possibility of having mining resources including gold and diamond. The quantum of these resources is yet to be established and commercial exploited.
Food production include rice cultivation (both upland and inland swamp), root crops (e.g. cassava, sweet potato & Yams), and vegetable gardening, cereal, fruits, palm oil product cultivation and cattle rearing
KASONKO CHIEFDOM DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (KACDEF)
MISSION STATEMENT
KACDEF is a Chiefdom –wide organization whose membership is open to all descendants of Kasonko chiefdom and well wishers who are interested in the chiefdom. A Non-Governmental Organisation is thought to offer the most viable institutional framework for addressing the pervasive problem of poverty in the post – war era. It will provide an independent, non-political rallying point for the entire chiefdom to articulate and decide upon the development priorities of the chiefdom. KACDEF will also serve as a clearinghouse for outside agencies interested in carrying out programmes in the chiefdom
The mission of the organization is therefore:
To enhance the capacity of member communities to take control and responsibility, for the elimination of poverty in the Kasunko chiefdom;
In our bid to accomplish the organisation’s mission, members shall be guided, among others, by the following fundamental principles:
i) All policy decisions shall be arrived at through consensus building process;
ii) No decision shall be taken without securing consensus of all parties on the particular issue under consideration by the organisation;
iii) Strong commitment to voluntary contribution to the resources of the organization;
iv) Organisational resource allocation shall be governed by need and cost effectiveness;
v) Strong commitment to by need and cost effectiveness;
v) Strong commitment to promotion of gender equality in all aspects of the operations of the organization;
vi) Promotion of community participation in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes of KACDEF;
vii) Promotion of partnership among like-minded organizations within and outside of Sierra Leone;
viii) Ensure transparency and satisfactory accountability in the activities of the organisation.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives for which KACDEF is established are:
1) Assist in the co-ordination of developmental projects operates in the chiefdom;
2) Stimulate and promote the establishment / strengthening of community base development group / organizations in all sections of the chiefdom;
3) Facilitate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads in the chiefdom;
4) Co-ordinate all development activities in the chiefdom in close collaboration with appropriate governmental and other development agencies;
5) Support community-based groups to identify and establish functional links with partner institutions within and outside Sierra Leone;
6) Serve as a vehicle for channeling of resources for the improvement of agriculture, education and health infrastructure in the chiefdom.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all descendants and associates of Kasunko Chiefdom who subscribe to and agree with both the objectives and guiding principles of KACDEF as set out in the constitution. Honorarium Membership shall be available to both well wishers who are interested in the chiefdom as well as those individuals who have become “descendants” of Kasonko Chiefdom by association (e.g. marriage, working in the chiefdom, friends of descendants and personal friends of the chiefdom).
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KACDEF shall be vested in a Board of Directors comprising the following:
a) The Honorable Member of Parliament of the Constituency
b) The paramount Chief
c) District Council Councilors of Ward one and two
d) One (Principal) representative of secondary schools
e) One (Head Teacher) representative of Primary Schools
f) Two religious leaders’ representatives of the two main faith (Christian and Muslim)
g) Two patrons who are prominent people from the Chiefdom and One of the founding members.
The first Chairman shall hold office for two years. Subsequent chairman shall be elected by the whole Board.
The first Board shall be nominated by the promoters of this Foundation and shall hold office for two years only thereafter subsequent Board members shall be elected by members of this Foundation.
The Board of Directors shall preside over the elections and appointments of a Management team who shall run the daily affairs of the Foundation as per guidelines promulgated by the Constitution and ratified by membership.
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