By Kortor Kamara, Special Correspondent, USA
As one of the “Fifty Great Men and Women who Helped to Build our Nation “, so designated by the Government of Sierra Leone, in the Sierra Leonean Heroes publication dated April 27, 1988, Kisimi Kamara (photo) is widely celebrated for his seminal invention of Mende writing.
However, his role as Speaker of Barri Chiefdom, Pujehun district has remained largely buried, unreported and to date conveniently unexamined by researchers and chiefdom folks alike.
Born in Vaama, near Potoru, Kisimi had in the 1920s and 1930s developed and popularized his Mende language writing syllabary, Ki-ka-ku, which became widespread in the Mende areas of the protectorate. Kisimi Kamara eventually became well known, rich and powerful throughout Mendeland, occasioned by his innovation, which enhanced his political ambitions.
Chief Kisimi Kamara was elected Chiefdom Speaker of Barri , under the rule of Paramount Chief Bockari Wa Magona, who ruled from 1957 through 1963.
As Chiefdom Speaker, Kisimi held the second most prominent position in the chiefdom. He however became over ambitious and sought to challenge the authority of the chief, according to several sources. This resulted in chiefdom disturbances in Barri which culminated in his deposition and exile to Kakua chiefdom, where he remained until his demise in 1962. He was buried in Vaama, his home town.
As adjudged by the colonial District Commissioner to have been the source and leader of the chiefdom disturbances and his resultant banishment, Kisimi Kamara’s legacy is tainted and largely forgotten in Barri Chiefdom.
He is widely remembered by several sources, who contributed to this oral narrative of his rule as Chiefdom Speaker, to have been a troublesome leader and intellectual, who became blinded by his lust for the ultimate political power, subsequently leading to his clash with Paramount Chief Magona - a power play that he ultimately lost.
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