Government Minister Proposes Krio as National Language of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired Assistant Inspector General (Rtd AIG) Morie Lengor, has proposed the formal adoption of Krio as the country’s national language.

Speaking at the weekly government press briefing, Minister Lengor outlined his vision for normalizing, legalizing, and adopting the widely spoken Krio language across all sectors of society, including education, legislation, and the judiciary.

Krio, a language with roots in the transatlantic slave trade, evolved as a vital means of communication between enslaved people and their captors. In Sierra Leone, it further developed with the arrival of freed slaves in Freetown, ultimately becoming the primary lingua franca for the vast majority of the population.

“Krio is spoken and understood by virtually every Sierra Leonean, from the capital to the most remote villages,” Minister Lengor stated. He highlighted the language’s inclusion in the secondary education curriculum, complete with standardized alphabets, as evidence of its linguistic significance.

The minister argued that formal recognition of Krio would promote inclusivity, unity, and national cohesion. He pointed out that for many Sierra Leoneans, English is a third language, following their native tongue and Krio.

While acknowledging the continued importance of English, the former colonial language, Minister Lengor emphasized the need to prioritize Krio, which is deeply embedded in the daily lives of Sierra Leoneans. He cited examples of nations like Germany, Sweden, China, India, Pakistan, Japan, and South Korea, which have achieved significant development by prioritizing their national languages.

“Imagine the impact of seeing Parliamentarians debating, lawyers arguing, and verdicts delivered in Krio,” Minister Lengor said, underscoring the potential for increased accessibility and understanding.

The minister is now calling for urgent political consideration and a sense of national urgency to formally recognize Krio as the national language across Sierra Leone. He believes this step would solidify Krio’s status and further unify the nation.