Kono: Fortified Village History and Historic Sites

Historic Sites in Kono

Masakpaidu, Tomudu Village, and Savage Pit represent different chapters in Kono’s history: the story of a fortified settlement and memories of the war.

Masakpaidu is an abandoned village in the Nimmi-Yema Chiefdom of Kono District. Its fortification was built around 1800, before the Protectorate. The fortified area was enclosed by 12-foot-high Cotton Tree stakes. Some of the stakes took root; their stumps are still there. A ditch about 300 yards long ran outside the line of stakes. This layout helps explain the fortification as a deliberately designed settlement boundary.

Around 1893, the Sofas under Alimamy plundered the village; Masakpaidu was then permanently abandoned. In 1933, the Government of Sierra Leone had a new, larger monument built, incorporating the original cross. The monument commemorates the soldiers who fell that day. The dates distinguish two events: the settlement’s abandonment around 1893 and the monument’s construction in 1933.

The Masakpaidu site is next to the present-day village of Massabendu. During an inspection in 2007, the name “Masakpaidu” did not appear to be known locally; it remained unclear whether it was an incorrect rendering of “Massabendu” or an earlier form of the name.

Tomudu Village is the mass burial site of 60 people who were burned during the war and buried together. Savage Pit is associated with a soldier who became a rebel, beheaded victims, and disposed of their bodies. The two sites offer different historical perspectives: Tomudu Village represents a communal burial, while Savage Pit is associated with the person and their actions.

A Different Focus: Love Garden

Love Garden (Kondayque Centre) is an environmentally friendly venue that hosts events and offers a natural setting for recreation. This event and recreation venue adds a different focus to Kono’s historical themes.

Eastern Province: Landscapes in the Wider Travel Region

Alongside Kono’s historic sites, the Eastern Province offers a distinct landscape-focused experience. The Tingi Hills Forest Reserve extends across the Eastern and Northern Provinces and includes the Sankan Birriwa massif. Two peaks, separated by a narrow gorge, form the massif. Both are higher than 1,800 metres; the northern peak is 1,850 metres high. The terrain of the Tingi Hills is mostly rocky and crossed by numerous streams that rise in the massif. The peaks, gorge, and streams describe different aspects of this regional landscape.

Another point of interest in the Eastern Province is the Kambui Hills Forest Reserve. From Kenema, it can be reached via a passable unpaved road. Check local road conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Fonima

For the broader travel overview: Eastern Province.