How we lived
Music&fun
Songs and bands, dances and masquerades, lantern parades, football and games.
← Everyday lifeFrom the archive
58 items
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Wunde dancers, the "bird dancers", Mano, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Dance, wunde
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
A masked dancer, Kailahun, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Dance, mask
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Poro masked dancers resting between dances, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Dance mask, man
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
A masked dancer with attendants, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Dance mask
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A drummer, Mende country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Drum, man
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A masquerade with a giant bow, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Pantomim, hut
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A group of dancers, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Dancers
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A motion shot - man holding a drum looking up 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 209
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Men dancing in headdresses at a ceremony, Panguma 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 342
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Tilling the future rice fields, accompanied by a drummer, Panguma (Sierra Leone), early 1934 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra2.14
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The drummer who accompanies the work on the rice fields, Panguma (Sierra Leone), early 1934 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra2.15
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
The Sierra Leone National Dance Troupe, 1965 1965
Original title: Gruppbild
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A drummer at a dance school near Freetown, 1967 1967
Original title: Man
Martinsson, Erik · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Musicians at a dance school near Freetown, 1967 1967
Original title: Man
Martinsson, Erik · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
At a dance school near Freetown, 1967 1967
Original title: Man
Martinsson, Erik · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A dance acrobat at a dance school near Freetown, 1967 1967
Original title: Man
Martinsson, Erik · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
AbdulRahmanKamara2011 2011
Kam Kamara · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
A musician playing, Panguma Photographed 1935
Original title: SierraLeone025
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cultural dance in Freetown Sierra Leone 2016
John Sesay07 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Sierra leone Nubian Lines 2016
Kasambu 'Ra House- Federation Of The South · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cultural Dance in Eastern Part of Sierra Leone 2017
Riboc · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Ready for the Game 2017
Geraint Hill · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Women and sport in Sierra Leone 2017
Mohammed Corgay · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Women's Football Sierra Leone 2017
Geraint Hill · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Post-initiation dance, Rogbonko, Sierra Leone 2024
Jonathanbwilson1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Fulani traditional drum "Tabaldeh" (Fullah Culture) 2025
ODC-SIERRA-LEONE · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
"Field photo masquerade" before 1915
Alphonso Lisk-Carew · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Dancing girl in Bundu dress (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Headdress, costume, girl
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Dancing girls in Bundu dress (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Dance, costume, girls
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
An acrobat's hammock dance at a festival (Lisk-Carew postcard) 1930
Original title: Village, ceremony, hut
Lisk-Carew, Alphonso · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Drum (Sierra Leonean ?) 19th century
Susu people ? · Public domain (CC0) · The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Mancala Game Board late 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask (ndoli jowei) for Sande Society 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Masked 'gbini' dancer, Panguma 1936, man playing drum to the right while others look on 1934
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 295
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Masked 'gbini' dancer, Panguma (Sierra Leone), 1936 1936
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra7.11
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Cloth 1982
Kadiato Kamara · Public domain (CC0) · Wereldmuseum (National Museum of World Cultures) · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Sowei helmet mask with crested hair, Mende Collected by 1983
Original title: hjälmmask, Hjämmask
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Brooklyn Museum 2004.77.1 Gbini Mask
Brooklyn Museum · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Africa Cup of Nations 2021, footballer
Original title: CAN 2021, joueur de football
Happiraphael · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Football match, Africa Cup of Nations 2021
Original title: Jeu de football, CAN 2021
Happiraphael · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Football defender
Original title: Défenseur de football
Happiraphael · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Wari game board-Sierra Leone (British Museum)
Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Helmet Mask (Zogbe) for Sande Society early 20th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Ball of raw rubber, a toy Collected 1930–31
Original title: Toy, ball, toy [?]
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Trumpet Collected 1930–31
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Drum Collected 1930–31
Original title: Drum, musikinstrument
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
This picture shows a Poro or Sande (Bondo) society ceremony, dancer or object. Some of what the societies do is for members only; it is shown here for its history
Gourd rattle covered with seeds, used at Bundu dances Collected 1930–31
Original title: Dance, skaste, rattle
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Dance whip Collected 1930–31
Original title: Piska, danspiska, whip
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture
Toy, ball Collected 1930–31
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture