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• Comment: Kingdom of Koya exists. Please seek to improve that article. We do not draft new articles and hope for them to be swapped for the old ones 🇵🇸‍🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦‍🇵🇸 08:12, 24 May 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: Virtually no improvement made since last decline. ToadetteEdit (7M articles) 05:07, 24 May 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: I am concerning myself only with the references. You have many whcih hinder acceptance, which are a net negative.
  Blogs may not be used, please. They need to be replaced with non user generated sources where there is no oversight.
  Wikipedia may never be used as a reference. Please use Wikilinks instead. See WP:CIRCULAR. Those faux references must be replaced. 🇵🇸‍🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦‍🇵🇸 21:40, 23 May 2025 (UTC)

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The Kingdom of Koya

Kingdom of Koya Gbaana Kquoja
1505-1898
Most Widely accepted proposal of The kingdom of Koya's flag.
Map of The Koya Kingdom in 1840 (May not be accurate)
Status	Sovereign kingdom
Capital	Robaga
Common languages	Temne
Religion	Traditional African religions and Islam
Demonym(s)	Temne
Government	Monarchy
•	Farima I (1505-1550)
•	Bai Bureh (1886-1898)
History
• Temne Migration into Sierra Leone & Later Establishment	1505
• Arrival of the British Empire	1775
•  Freedom town Peninsula Ceded	1787
• Battle Against the Susu & Loko, Annexation of Grand cape mount by Liberia	1801–1868
• Annexation into the British Empire	1898
•  Hut Tax War of 1898	January of 1898
Area
• Total	39,700 km2 (15,300 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	Few hundred Thousand
Currency	Cowrie
Today part of	Liberia, Sierra Leone

The Kingdom of Kquoja, also known as Koya, Koya Temne, or the Temne Kingdom (1505–1896), was a pre-colonial African state situated in the northern region of present-day Sierra Leone, with its original capital at Robaga (Most Likely Absorbed into Freetown) Near Modern day Freetown. The kingdom was founded by the Temne ethnic group, who were migrants from the north, arriving in the area around 1505. These migrants sought to establish trade networks with the Portuguese traders operating along the southern coast, which became a fundamental motivation for their settlement and the kingdom’s subsequent development.

The kingdom was governed by a Monarch known as a Bai or Obai, whose authority extended over a network of sub-kingdoms ruled by nobles titled "Gbana". This decentralized structure allowed the kingdom to manage its vast territory and diverse population effectively. Throughout its history, Koya maintained diplomatic and commercial relations with both European powers and neighboring African states. Notably, the kingdom engaged in trade with Islamic states to its north, incorporated Muslims within its borders, and fostered connections with the British and French as early as the 18th century.

Prior to Migration

The Temne people are believed to have migrated from the Futa Jallon region of Guinea, likely fleeing Fula jihads in the 15th century. They then settled in the Sierra Leone region, particularly the area between the Kolenté and Rokel River. While the exact timeline is not precisely known, their presence in Futa Jallon is thought to date back to the 1460s.

Cause of Migration

In the 14th Century, Tenguella (a Fula Leader) served as both a religious and political leader (silatigi) among the Fula people in Futa Toro. In response to pressure from the expanding Jolof Empire during the 1450s, he led a migration eastward, where he founded the state of Futa Kingi within the territory of the Kingdom of Diarra. Using Futa Kingi as his base, Tenguella extended his influence by launching military campaigns into surrounding regions and disrupting established trade networks. His son, Koli, was later sent to Futa Jallon to rally the local Fula population in resistance against Mande control. From this, The Temne was most likely Caught in the cross fire and migrated Southwest.

Portuguese Interaction

Apon Arrival to North Sierra leone, The Temne began trading with the Portuguese in the late 15th century as Portuguese explorers and traders sailed along the West African coast seeking routes to India and China. The first documented contacts between the Portuguese and the Temne are recorded in the memoirs of explorers such as Valentim Fernandes and Pacheco Pereira, who described Temne society and culture as early as 1505–1508. These Portuguese records mention Temne words for gold, water, and rice, and note that the Temne lived in communities near water, practiced local religious customs, and had organized village courts

The events of migration, trade and other systems had eventually caused the Temne to establish the Kingdom of Koya Which was Situated North of Sierra leone, Spreading southwards more and eventually making Either Robaga (According to Elders and Scholars) or Cape Mount their capital.

The Slave Trade

The Kingdom of Koya became involved in the Atlantic slave trade, many local subjects engaged in the sale of enslaved people directly with European traders on the coast, often acting independently of the state. This dynamic made it difficult for the Bai and other leaders to control the extent or impact of the trade within their territories.

Despite the pressures of the slave trade, Koya maintained a degree of autonomy and influence in the region. The kingdom continued to interact with European powers, notably signing a treaty in the late 18th century that allowed for the establishment of a British colony on the Sierra Leone peninsula. However, conflicts with the British and neighboring groups, such as the Susu, Led to territorial set backs and a Distruption in Koya’s power. The Exact Number of Slaves that were taken from Modern day Sierra Leone is not known, but Annual exports in the late 18th century show About 3,000 per year Came from the Nunez River to Sherbro (within Sierra Leone), And Annual exports from Senegambia and Sierra Leone combined With About 7,000 per year in the 1780s

Naimbanna II

Naimbanna II (c. 1720 – 11 November 1793) was Obai (King) of the Temne people of Sierra Leone. He was known to be a kind ruler. Naimbanna II led the Koya Kingdom during a period of significant hopes for modernization and interaction with European powers, particularly the British, who sought to establish settlements in the region.

Two folios from King Naimbanna to John Clarkson, described as ‘His gift to Mr Clarkson on taking leave’. 23 December 1792.

In 1787, the British government agreed to help the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor in relocating freed Africans to West Africa, and intended to purchase land from the Temne people. An initial agreement was made without Naimbanna's full knowledge with one of his local chiefs, Tombo (called "King Tom" by the British), to cede land for what became known as the Province of Freedom. Tombo, unable to read or write, was likely unaware of the full implications of the treaty. After Tombo's death, Naimbanna became aware of the details and requested a new treaty, which was signed in 1788.

Agents of the Sierra Leone Company negotiated with Naimbanna in 1788 and persuaded him to sign over some of his land for the Company’s settlement. Naimbanna later expressed concerns that the deal had been negotiated too hastily and should not have been given consent. Despite these misgivings, he maintained a pragmatic approach, seeking both to benefit from the new colony’s opportunities and to retain his authority as the rightful leader of the region.

Naimbanna II was notable for his openness to Western education and influence. In 1791, he sent his eldest son, John Frederick Naimbanna, to England to be educated under the sponsorship of abolitionist Granville Sharp and reformer Henry Thornton. While in London, his son became a Christian and adopted the forenames Henry and Granville as a tribute to his mentors. Naimbanna also sent another son, Pedro, to France for education.[1]

Announcement of the death of Prince Naimbanna, Bury and Norwich Post, 1 January 1794

Despite his efforts to foster good relations with the British, cordial relations did not last. Naimbanna II died in 1793, as did his son John Frederick Naimbanna, who died while returning to Sierra Leone from England.

Battle of Port Loko & The Northern Coast

From 1801 to 1807, Koya fought a war with British colonists and the Susu Koya lost the northern shoreline of Sierra Leone to the British and Port Loko to the Susu. However, they remained a power in the region. In 1815, the Temne fought another war with the Susu and regained the Port & Coast. In 1841, the Temne defeated the Loko of Kasona on the Mabaole River dispersing many of the people. In response to a British bombardment, the kingdom expelled the Church Missionary Society missionaries operating at Magbela in 1860.

Bai Bureh

As leader of his region, Bai Bureh consistently resisted collaboration with the colonial authorities based in Freetown. He openly rejected a peace agreement that the British had brokered with the Limba people, arguing that it was illegitimate since he had not been included in the negotiations. At one point, his forces even crossed into French Guinea, conducting raids beyond Sierra Leone’s borders.

Bai Bureh

On the first day of 1893, the British colonial administration introduced a hut tax across Sierra Leone and other British territories in Africa. This levy required payment in cash, agricultural produce, livestock, or labor, forcing many local residents to work as laborers to settle their tax obligations. The revenue collected was used by the colonial government to construct infrastructure such as roads, towns, and railways in Sierra Leone.

Bai Bureh staunchly opposed the hut tax, contending that Sierra Leoneans should not be compelled to pay taxes to foreign rulers. He believed the British should leave Sierra Leone and allow its people to govern themselves. After repeatedly refusing to pay the tax, colonial officials issued a warrant for his arrest. In response to Governor Frederic Cardew’s offer of a reward for Bureh’s capture, Bureh famously countered by offering an even larger sum for the governor’s arrest. In 1898, tensions escalated into open warfare, with Bureh launching a rebellion against British rule—an event now known as the Hut Tax War of 1898.

The majority of Bureh’s fighters were drawn from Temne and Loko communities under his leadership, but he also received support from warriors of the Limba, Kissi, and Kuranko peoples. Bureh’s forces not only battled colonial troops but also targeted Creole residents of Northern Sierra Leone, whom they accused of supporting the colonial government. Among the prominent victims was the trader John “Johnny” Taylor, who was killed by Bureh’s warriors in his home.

For several months, Bureh’s forces held the upper hand. By mid-February 1898, they had cut off all communication routes between Freetown and Port Loko, blocking both roads and waterways. Despite repeated attempts to capture him, colonial forces were unable to subdue Bureh and his supporters. The conflict caused significant loss of life on both sides.

Surrender

On 11 November 1898, Bai Bureh was ultimately captured after being located by a small patrol from the recently established West African Regiment in the dense, swampy terrain near Port Loko. His Temne and Loko followers put up the resistance, but were soon overtaken by the soldiers. Bai Bureh was then escorted under guard to Freetown. There, he became the center of public attention, with crowds congregating around his lodgings at all hours, eager to see him. He was held as a political detainee and allowed only restricted liberties.

Bai Bureh in Exile.

The colonial government sent Bai Bureh into exile to the Gold Coast (now Ghana), along with the powerful Sherbro chief Kpana Lewis and the powerful Mende chief Nyagua. Both Kpana Lewis and Nyagua died in exile but Bai Bureh was brought back to Sierra Leone in 1905 and reinstated as the Chief of Kasseh. The Kingdom of Koya was no longer, and Bai Bureh died with the Kingdom later on in 1908.