Kono District

Infobox City
official_name = Kono District


subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Capital
subdivision_type2 = Province
subdivision_name = Sierra Leone
subdivision_name1 = Koidu Town
subdivision_name2 = Eastern Province
leader_title = Paramount Chief
leader_name = Abu Mbawa Kongoba
population_as_of = 2004 census
population_metro =
population_total = 335,401
timezone = Greenwich Mean Time
utc_offset = -5
website =

Kono District is a district in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town, which is also the fourth largest city in Sierra Leone. Other major towns include Yengema. The population of Kono District was 335,401 in the 2004 census. Kono District borders the Republic of Guinea to the east, Koinadugu District to the west, Kenema District to the southwest, and Kailahun District to the southeast.

Kono District has been called the "breadbasket" of Sierra Leone because of its economic importance. Every year the District produced hundreds of millions of U.S Dollars worth of diamonds and is home to the largest concentration of artisanal miners in the world. The diamonds from Kono District, since they were discovered in the 1930s, have accounted for more than 50% of the Gross National Product of Sierra Leone. Despite of this huge contribution to the Sierra Leone economy, Kono District remains one of the least developed Districts in the country.

Before the civil war, Kono District had a population well over 600,000 Fact|date=March 2008; however, it experienced devastation during the Sierra Leone Civil War, which forced many of the residents out of the district. The district was heavily looted and constantly fought over due to the rich diamond reserves in the area.

Demographics

Kono District has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the country. The Kono people form the largest ethnic group at about 55% of the population.

Economy

Kono District is the largest diamond producer in Sierra Leone. Other important economic activities include gold mining and agricultural production of rice, coffee and cacao.

port

Kono is home to Sierra Leonean Premier League club the Diamond Stars of Kono. The club is one of the oldest, biggest, and most popular soccer clubs in Sierra Leone. The club have won the Sierra Leonean FA Cup once, in 1992.

Government

Kono District has nine Representatives in the Sierra Leonean Parliament, of which eight members were elected for a 5-year term. Below is the list of Kono District Representatives Sierra Leonean Parliament:

Towns and villages in Kono District

*Foindu
*Jaiama-Nimokoro
*Jaima-Sewafe
*Kaima
*Koidu Town, capital and largest city
*Motema
*Ndoyogbo
*Nemeseidu
*Ngiehun
*Peyima
*Seidu
*Simbakoro
*Tefeya
*Tomondu
*Tombodu, third largest city
*Yengema, second largest city
*Yamandu

Popular culture

Kono District was the setting for much of "Blood Diamond", with Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Honsou.

Notable people from Kono District

*Samuel Sam-Sumana, current vice president of Sierra Leone
*Johnny Paul Koroma, former head of state of Sierra Leone
*Sia Koroma, first lady of Sierra Leone
*Queen Da Boss Musician
*Sam Bockarie, former RUF leader
*Solomon Musa, former vice chairman of the NPRC,
*Sidique Mansaray, football star
*Komba Yomba, football star
*Patrick Bantamoi, football star
*Komba Mondeh, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Sierra Leonean army
*Mohamed Dabundeh, football star
*Francis Koroma, football star

ource

* [http://www.daco-sl.org/encyclopedia/7_lib/7_2h_ko.htm Kono District at the Sierra Leone Encyclopedia 2006]
*http://www.statehouse-sl.org/member-parliament.html
*http://www.mineralcommodities.com.au/mrc160606.php