- Krahn
Krahn is an
ethnic group ofLiberia ; it is also the language traditionally spoken by these people.The Krahn are a native ethnic group who were present in the area known as Liberia before the formation of the country. When Liberia was founded in
1847 theAmerico-Liberian s tended to live on the coast, with the native groups (including the Krahn) residing inland. The Krahn are traditionally based inGrand Gedeh County .It is thought that the Krahn were traditionally farmers, growing food, and keeping a few animals. Hunting and fishing was also practiced. In terms of religion, many Krahn believe that objects have spirits or souls (
animism ).Language
There are two variations of the language, Eastern and Western Krahn.
Western Krahn is spoken in parts of
Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia. From1991 and1993 research, there were an estimated 47,800 speakers in Liberia and 12,200 in Côte d'Ivoire.Eastern Krahn tends to be spoken natively only in Liberia, with a 1991 estimate of the number of speakers at about 47,000.
There are many dialects of both of these languages. Dialects in Côte d'Ivoire tend to have a French influence.
When the Krahn leader
Samuel Doe came to power in Liberia (through a military coup in1980 ) many Kyle Krahn speakers moved from the inland areas to the capital Monrovia. It is thought though that many ethnic Krahn brought up in the city will have not used the language.Following the removal of the
Samuel Doe regime in1990 , and the onset of civil war, refugees have fled from Liberia to Côte d'Ivoire, some taking the Krahn language with them.Members of the Krahn tribe founded a rebel group, the
Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL).
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