Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement
Encyclopedia
Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement (also known as 'Dawoh' ('the pot')) was a political party
in Sierra Leone
, led by Paramount Chief
from Kono
, Tamba Sungu Mbriwa. The party was founded in 1958, through the merger of the Kono Progressive Movement
and the Sierra Leone Independence Movement
. The objective of the party was, according to its founding declaration, to "prosecute more vigorously a political campaign for national unity and independence."
Kono Mannda, the mouthpiece of the erstwhile KPM, became the organ of the SLPIM in Kono.
The party suffered from repression from the government, SLST
and Paramount Chief
s. In September 1960, Mbriwa was jailed for six months.
In February 1961, Mbriwa was elected Paramount Chief of Fiama Chiefdom.
In 1962 an alliance was declared between SLPIM and the All People's Congress
. One day after the announcement, President Albert Margai
dismissed Mbriwa.
In the election SLPIM obtained 5.2% of the national vote and four seats (all from Kono). Outside of Kono, the candidates of the party fared poorly.
In 1963 the Sierra Leone People's Party
began pressurizing the SLPIM parliamentarians to join the government bloc. The alliance with APC was broken and the party was divided on how to relate to the SLPP. Three of the four SLPIM MPs, S. L. Matturi, D. S. Bockari and G. W. Mani, joined the SLPP. Leading figures who remained with SLPIM, such as the family of T.R. Foyoh, went into exile.
In the mid-1960s the SLPIM was dissolved by Mbriwa. The sole remaining SLPIM Member of Parliament, S.H. Gandi Capio, joined the APC. In July 1965 the Democratic People's Congress
was formed by some remaining elements of the SLPIM.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, led by Paramount Chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
from Kono
Kono
Kono is a village in Rivers State, Nigeria. It is situated on the coast in Khana Local Government Area, about 45 miles from Port Harcourt. The dialect spoken in Kono is Khana, and the people are Ogoni. Everton F.C. Footballer Joseph Yobo was born and grew up in Kono....
, Tamba Sungu Mbriwa. The party was founded in 1958, through the merger of the Kono Progressive Movement
Kono Progressive Movement
Kono Progressive Movement was a political party in Kono, Sierra Leone, that emerged in the mid-1950s with the backdrop of the expansion of diamond mining activities there are the growing feeling amongst a section of the Kono people that they were not reaping the benefits of the diamond boom. KPM...
and the Sierra Leone Independence Movement
Sierra Leone Independence Movement
Sierra Leone Independence Movement was a Freetown-based political party in Sierra Leone, was founded in 1957. The movement was led by Edward Wilmot Blyden III...
. The objective of the party was, according to its founding declaration, to "prosecute more vigorously a political campaign for national unity and independence."
Kono Mannda, the mouthpiece of the erstwhile KPM, became the organ of the SLPIM in Kono.
The party suffered from repression from the government, SLST
Sierra Leone Selection Trust
The Sierra Leone Selection Trust was formed in 1934 following an agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the Consolidated African Selection Trust Ltd . CAST was formed in 1924 and was part of a much larger mining finance house Selection Trust Ltd which had been founded in 1913 by...
and Paramount Chief
Paramount chief
A paramount chief is the highest-level traditional chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief-based system. This definition is used occasionally in anthropological and archaeological theory to refer to the rulers of multiple...
s. In September 1960, Mbriwa was jailed for six months.
In February 1961, Mbriwa was elected Paramount Chief of Fiama Chiefdom.
In 1962 an alliance was declared between SLPIM and the All People's Congress
All People's Congress
The All People's Congress is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, the other is the Sierra Leone People's Party . The party was founded in 1960 by Pa Mucktarru Kallay, Allieu Badarr Koroma,Alhaji Sheik Gibril Sesay C A Kamara-Taylor, S A T Koroma and Abu Bakarr S Bangura...
. One day after the announcement, President Albert Margai
Albert Margai
Sir Albert Michael Margai was the second prime minister of Sierra Leone and the half-brother of Sir Milton Margai, the country's first Prime Minister...
dismissed Mbriwa.
In the election SLPIM obtained 5.2% of the national vote and four seats (all from Kono). Outside of Kono, the candidates of the party fared poorly.
In 1963 the Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
began pressurizing the SLPIM parliamentarians to join the government bloc. The alliance with APC was broken and the party was divided on how to relate to the SLPP. Three of the four SLPIM MPs, S. L. Matturi, D. S. Bockari and G. W. Mani, joined the SLPP. Leading figures who remained with SLPIM, such as the family of T.R. Foyoh, went into exile.
In the mid-1960s the SLPIM was dissolved by Mbriwa. The sole remaining SLPIM Member of Parliament, S.H. Gandi Capio, joined the APC. In July 1965 the Democratic People's Congress
Democratic People's Congress
Democratic People's Congress was a political party in Sierra Leone. It was founded in July 1965, by remaining elements of the Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement in Kono. DPC consisted of a generation of younger former SLPIM cadres...
was formed by some remaining elements of the SLPIM.