Manga Sewa

Manga Sewa (died 1884) was a Yalunka paramount chief in Sierra Leone who blew up a magazine and much of Falaba, the capital of Solimana, killing himself, his family and other leaders, rather than let it fall to Samori Toure's army.

Early life and career

Manga Sewa was born in Falaba, Solimana chiefdom, in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone to Yalunka parents. His father was a Yalunka paramount chief of Solimana, a prosperous chieftaincy. Its capital, Falaba, was on the rich trading routes leading to the coast. Manga Sewa's father had a number of wives and dozens of children.

Touré 1884 attack

Manga Sewa became paramount chief of Solimana, a state in Northern Province. He was from one of the ruling families of the chieftaincy and would have been chief for life.

In the Beyla region of Guinea, Samori Toure (c.1830-1900), of the Touré clan, had expanded his influence; by 1878 he proclaimed himself faama (military leader) of his own Wassoulou Empire. In 1884 he took the title of Almany, commander of believers. In February of that year, he swept into north-east Sierra Leone, with his Mandinka army, bent on conquest.