MOMOH SANKOH

Momoh Sankoh (?-circa 1890) was a leading member of the Soso Sankoh clan who made several determined but unsuccessful attempts to regain the rulership of Port Loko for his clan. A man of learning, he was also a shrewd and aggressive leader. But for colonial intervention, he might well have succeeded in becoming ruler.

The Sankoh ruled Port Loko, northeast of Freetown on Port Loko Creek, from 1700 to 1817 when the Soso ruler Alimamy Konkori Sankoh was overthrown and beheaded. They were part of the Mandinka immigrant groups who had gradually moved into Sierra Leone from the l6th century onwards, and who by the 19th century were identified with rulership, prosperous trade, and revered Islamic learning and religion. After the overthrow of their leader, they still aspired to regain political influence in Port Loko, and struggled towards this throughout the 19th century. Probably no single figure did more to help this cause than Momoh Sankoh, a descendant of the beheaded Alimamy Konkori. He appears to have left Port Loko just before Konkori’s overthrow to obtain an Islamic education in the Melacourie region, of what is now the Republic of Guinea, probably in Maligea.

The Sankoh had been removed from power by an alliance between Temne and Mandinka clan interests which was ratified by a solemn agreement limiting the alikaliship or rulership to both clans on a rotating basis, thus excluding Sankoh claims for good. Throughout the century, however, succession to the alikaliship continued to be disputed. In 1840, on the death of Alikali Fatimah Brimah, three clans contested it—the Kamara, who, contrary to the agreement of 1817, wanted to continue in power – the Bangura, and the Sankoh. This rivalry threatened political stability in Port Loko, a matter of concern to the commercial interests of the Freetown colony, whose trade in Sudanic produce (other than slaves), such as cattle, gold, and hides, flowed more freely if this important intermediary trading center were free from disturbance. But the situation at the end of 1840 was far from stable.

As had happened in 1825, the Colony, in its interest, openly intervened in the dispute. From January to February 1841, the aggressive governor, John Jeremie (term of office 1840-41) visited Port Loko. He was accompanied by John McCormack, an Irish timber merchant who frequently acted as mediator between local rulers and the government, and Dalla Modu, a Soso chief from Bullom opposite the Freetown Colony who also assisted the government in the settlement of disputes.

Jeremie developed a strong dislike for the candidate put forward by the Sankoh, Namina Lahi Sankoh, who openly expressed his objection to colonial intervention and the possibility of a Christian missionary presence in Port Loko. The Bai Foki, a local ruler, apparently also resented Sankoh claims. Thus, after successful negotiations, Namina Modu Bangura was chosen and crowned Alikali in February, 1841. He then signed a treaty of friendship with the British, agreeing to promote commerce and to allow a Christian missionary station to be started in Port Loko. In return he demanded the payment of stipends, including overdue payments.

The Sankoh, undaunted by their defeat in 1841, again challenged the succession when Alikali Modu died in April 1853. This time their candidate was Momoh Sankoh, a man of refinement and superior learning compared to his rival, Mohamadu Alikali, son of Fatimah Brimah Kamara. This favourable comparison was made even by such unsympathetic judgments as those of the Colony’s two agents, Major Dillet and John McCormark, who had come to Port Loko to intervene in the dispute. But already before their arrival, the two rivals had taken steps to urge the government in Freetown to support one candidate against the other.

Momoh wrote to the governor that he had already been chosen Alikali. He made it clear that Soso kinsmen in the Melacourie, the Scarcies and Bullom led by Dalla Modu would come to his support should war break out. Mohamadu Alikali, on the other hand, informed the governor through Mori Bundu of Foredug in Koya, a powerful and respected Temne chief, that he had also been elected Alikali. His candidacy, he claimed, was supported by equally powerful chiefs and sub-chiefs in the Rokel region, the Bai Foki in Port Loko, Bai Kamara, Bai Banta, Dabo and Ebiru. It was evident that the whole area could easily be embroiled in war, with widespread economic and political disorder. After three anxious days of parleying and negotiation requiring all McCormack’s diplomatic skill, the dispute was resolved in favour of Alikali Mohamadu. Momoh Sankoh handed over the turban, symbol of authority, to McCormack in Saindugu, the Soso section of Port Loko, and Mohamadu was crowned Fatimah Brimah II on May 10, 1853.

Fate, however, intervened to break the peace that had been hoped for. In 1856 Fatimah Brimah II died, and Momoh Sankoh again contended for the throne. This claim threatened to provoke severe hostilities between the Sankoh and the Bangura, whose turn it was to succeed the Alikaliship. In another deliberate intervention by the Colony to protect its interests, Thomas George Lawson, McCormack’s assistant, was sent in November as mediator in this succession dispute. After treating with the principal chiefs of Port Loko, Lawson concluded that the Bangura candidate, Yan Kobah, was to be preferred to Sankoh, hardly a surprising outcome given Lawson’s anti-Islamic and anti-Soso bias.

Yan Kobah was crowned Alikali, and, to the gratification of the Freetown administration, the leading chiefs wrote thanking the governor for his mediation. The following year in March 1857, Governor Stephen Hill (term of office 1854-62), accompanied by McCormack and Charles Heddle, a Eurafrican timber merchant, visited Port Loko to confirm the succession of the new Alikali.

Sankoh, however, was not yet finished. Determined, shrewd, and aggressive, he launched a fierce attack on Port Loko early in 1859, receiving, as in the past, military help from his Soso kinsfolk within Port Loko, in Kambia, and Bullom. In February, Governor Hill reported that part of Port Loko had been burned down by Sankoh and his warriors. Krio (Creole) resident traders complained of terrible losses of property.

The administration had to rush reinforcements to help the Alikali and the Temne, which enabled them to repel Sankoh and his allies. Port Loko very narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of the Soso. This was the last desperate bid by Sankoh and the Soso to seize power in Port Loko. When Alikali Yan Kobah died in 1868 the succession passed without serious dispute to Alikali Moribah Kindo Kamara who was crowned on April 10, 1868, the Colony being represented by Colonel Yonge and T.G. Lawson.

Not much is known about Momoh Sankoh during this period, but he was probably involved in anti-colonial activities. In 1886 he reappeared again, arrested among the leaders of the Yoni Temne who had fought against the Colony in Koya and other regions in the Rokel. Deprived of leadership in Port Loko, through colonial intervention, Sankoh decided to fight against colonial expansion in northern Sierra Leone. In a sense, therefore he stands as an early anti-colonial resistance figure. After he was brought to Freetown, Sankoh was detained, together with other leaders of the Yoni resistance of 1887. What happened to him afterwards is uncertain, though he probably did not live on for long.

GUSTAV K. DEVENEAUX