THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ATHENS OF WEST AFRICA

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The country derives its name from Portuguese explorer Petro da Cintra, the first European to sight and map Freetown Harbour, originally called Sierra Lyoa (Lion Mountains) due to the surrounding hills. Located on West Africa's coast, bordered by Guinea and Liberia and facing the Atlantic Ocean, it boasts stunning sandy beaches. Agriculture underpins the economy, supplemented by rich mineral resources like diamonds, gold, bauxite, and rutile. The book explores the pre-colonial history of a society centered on agriculture and trade, governed by chiefs and customary laws. It also challenges the notion that Pedro da Cintra discovered Sierra Leone, revealing he was not the first European to arrive. The narrative details the exploitative British Colonial Administration until independence on April 27, 1961, and discusses Sierra Leone's reputation as the "Athens of West Africa," primarily due to its educational advancements. The first university in sub-Saharan Africa was established here, attracting students continent-wide. The text interweaves the nation's socio-economic and political development, highlighting its struggles through coups, a one-party state, an 11-year civil war, and ongoing constitutional challenges since independence.