In Kono, history comes together at distinct, clearly identified places: a fortified settlement, a memorial, and sites connected with the war. This selection makes the historical connections tangible, without suggesting that all the places tell the same story.

Historic Sites in Kono

The fortified village of Masakpaidu was established around 1800. The 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 a mistaken rendering of “Massabendu” or an earlier form of the name.

In 1933, the Sierra Leone government had a new, larger memorial built, incorporating the original cross. The memorial commemorates the soldiers who fell on that day.

Tomudu Village is the site of a mass grave for 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 sites point to different themes: the origins and naming of Masakpaidu, remembrance at the memorial, and different stories of the war at Tomudu Village and Savage Pit.

Eastern Province: Historical and Landscape Contexts

In the wider destination of Eastern Province, Masakpaidu is described as an abandoned village in the Nimmi-Yema Chiefdom of Kono District. Its fortification dates from around 1800, before the Protectorate. Around 1893, the Sofas under Alimamy looted the village; it was permanently abandoned afterward. The dates describe different phases: fortification around 1800, and looting followed by abandonment around 1893.

At Masakpaidu, 12-foot-high Cotton Tree stakes enclosed the fortified area. Some stakes took root, and their stumps are still present. Outside the line of stakes ran a ditch about 300 yards long.

The wider destination of Eastern Province is also home to the Kambui Hills Forest Reserve. It can be reached from Kenema via a passable unpaved road; check local road conditions before setting out. The reserve consists of Kambui North, at 20,348 hectares, and Kambui South, at 880 hectares. The main road to Kenema separates the two sections.

The Tingi Hills Forest Reserve extends across the Eastern and Northern Provinces. In the Sankan Birriwa massif, two peaks are separated by a narrow gorge. Both are higher than 1,800 meters; the northern peak is 1,850 meters high. The Tingi Hills terrain is mostly rocky and crossed by numerous streams that rise in the massif.

Gola Forest also extends across several provinces: the three reserves, Gola North, Gola East, and Gola West, are located in the Eastern and Southern Provinces. They cover 45,800, 22,800, and 6,200 hectares, respectively. Thus, the wider destination of Eastern Province offers regional landscapes alongside its history.

Discover more destinations: Fonima

Go to the wider travel overview: Eastern Province.