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Di Tɛm ɛn Tɔri is a living archive of Sierra Leone's history: stories, places, voices and old photographs, gathered before they are lost.

A project by Daverose Tholley · hello@dt-ets.com

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Stories: Written and checked by our editors, with sources listed.
From the public: Photos, memories and comments shared by readers. Photos are reviewed before they go up, location data is removed, and anything reported comes down until an editor checks it.
From the archives: Old photographs, maps, stamps and film from public collections, each credited to its maker.

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© 2026 Daverose Tholley · Di Tɛm ɛn Tɔri. Our writing: CC BY-NC 4.0. Design and wordmark: all rights reserved. Archive items belong to their credited holders. Terms

How we lived

Money&work

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From the archive

124 items · page 1 / 2

A mud-walled, thatched store up-country, 1910 — A mud-walled, thatched store up-country, 1910 1910
Original title: A mud store of Syrian traders
T. J. Alldridge · Public domain · Internet Archive · Source ↗ · Report this picture

An autobiography (electronic resource)- the story of the Lord's dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith, the colored evangelist - containing an acco — An autobiography (electronic resource)- the story of the Lord's dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith, the colored evangelist - containing an acco 1921
Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictions · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mende women knotting nets, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Hantverk
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mende women knotting nets, 1930–31 — Mende women knotting nets, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Hantverk
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Woman knotting a net 1930
Original title: Woman, knyta, net
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Woman knotting a net — Woman knotting a net 1930
Original title: Woman, knyta, net
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mende woman spinning cotton, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Hantverk, spindle, woman
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mende woman spinning cotton, 1930–31 — Mende woman spinning cotton, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Hantverk, spindle, woman
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Inside a smithy, Kissi country, 1930–31 — Inside a smithy, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Forge
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Twisting thread from palm-leaf fibre, Kissi country, 1930–31 — Twisting thread from palm-leaf fibre, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: fotografi, photograph
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Putting up a web: laying the warp for the loom, Kissi country, 1930–31 — Putting up a web: laying the warp for the loom, Kissi country, 1930–31 1930
Original title: Village, men
Bolinder, Gustaf Wilhelm · Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Midday meal for farm worker group, Panguma late 1934 — Midday meal for farm worker group, Panguma late 1934 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 095
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

'Boy' Selu on chair made by carpenter (standing), Panguma March 1934 — 'Boy' Selu on chair made by carpenter (standing), Panguma March 1934 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 126
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Farm hut in the main rice farm for cooking and taking shelter from fierce sun or rain, Panguma late 1934 — Farm hut in the main rice farm for cooking and taking shelter from fierce sun or rain, Panguma late 1934 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 208
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Kaifala, Panguma's carpenter, posing in the yard of the guesthouse — Kaifala, Panguma's carpenter, posing in the yard of the guesthouse 1934–36
Original title: SierraLeone Hofstra 227
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Farm hut in the main rice farm for cooking and taking shelter from fierce sun or rain, Panguma (Sierra… — Farm hut in the main rice farm for cooking and taking shelter from fierce sun or rain, Panguma (Sierra… 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra4.12
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Midday meal of farm worker group, Panguma late 1934 — Midday meal of farm worker group, Panguma late 1934 1934
Original title: SierraLeoneHofstra4.13
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Min. Of Information of Sierra Leone in an official delegation at the diamond exchange in Tel Aviv — Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Min. Of Information of Sierra Leone in an official delegation at the diamond exchange in Tel Aviv 1959
Moshe Pridan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Children at a farm shelter near Kakoya, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (2098442312) — Children at a farm shelter near Kakoya, Sierra Leone (West Africa) (2098442312) 1967
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

TemneChildren — TemneChildren 1967
gbaku · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Lansana Kamara and four of his children, Kabala, Sierra Leone (west Africa) 1968 (2632474492) — Lansana Kamara and four of his children, Kabala, Sierra Leone (west Africa) 1968 (2632474492) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Lansana Kamara (centre) at his store pub in Kabala, Sierra Leone (West Africa), 1968 (500222834) — Lansana Kamara (centre) at his store pub in Kabala, Sierra Leone (West Africa), 1968 (500222834) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Lansana Kamara, pub shop owner, Kabala, Sierra Leone (West Africa), 1968 (2098862490) — Lansana Kamara, pub shop owner, Kabala, Sierra Leone (West Africa), 1968 (2098862490) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

The youngest Kamara child as of early 1968, Kabala, Sierra Leone (west Africa) (2631907473) — The youngest Kamara child as of early 1968, Kabala, Sierra Leone (west Africa) (2631907473) 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

KoiduStreet2 — KoiduStreet2 Unknown date (probably 1980s - the date on the photograph is
Brian Harrington Spier · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Alluvial diamond miner Sierra Leone 2005 — Alluvial diamond miner Sierra Leone 2005 2005
Laura Lartigue · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

VW bus near farm shelter along road in northern Sierra Leone (West Africa) (851713453) — VW bus near farm shelter along road in northern Sierra Leone (West Africa) (851713453) Photographed 1967 or 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Diamond-39507 — Diamond-39507 before March 2010
Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Aw (2) — Aw (2) 2011
Mummane · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Landogo stonemason and carpenter — Landogo stonemason and carpenter 2011
Jimmy Baum · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Youyi Building — Youyi Building 2011
Joelburman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Ground nut and casada farm - panoramio — Ground nut and casada farm - panoramio 2013
Ghassan Mroue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Rice Farm - panoramio (1) — Rice Farm - panoramio (1) 2013
Ghassan Mroue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Rice Farm - panoramio (2) — Rice Farm - panoramio (2) 2013
Ghassan Mroue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Farm hut on the rice farm, for cooking and shelter from sun and rain, Panguma, 1934 — Farm hut on the rice farm, for cooking and shelter from sun and rain, Panguma, 1934 Photographed late 1934
Original title: SierraLeone039
Sjoerd Hofstra · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

A Catholic experimental farm in Sierra Leone — A Catholic experimental farm in Sierra Leone 2016
Gabriel Rockwell · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Real African people working on their little farm in Freetown — Real African people working on their little farm in Freetown 2016
Alusinejrkamara · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Real African people working on their little farm in Freetown (They are harvesting potatoes for living ) — Real African people working on their little farm in Freetown (They are harvesting potatoes for living ) 2016
Alusinejrkamara · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Freetown Tailor — Freetown Tailor 2017
Lesdewit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Icaisp — Icaisp 2017
Icaisp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

20190430 124515 Sierra Leone — 20190430 124515 Sierra Leone 2019
dpu-ucl · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

20190503 090054 Yanna Sun — 20190503 090054 Yanna Sun 2019
Development Planning Unit University College London · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Kissi penny — Kissi penny 2021
Starnutoditopo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

A trader and his assistant at the Sierra Leone Big Market — A trader and his assistant at the Sierra Leone Big Market 2025
ODC-SIERRA-LEONE · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Sierra Leone Fullah Culture ( Farm boys) — Sierra Leone Fullah Culture ( Farm boys) 2025
ODC-SIERRA-LEONE · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Michigan-Sierra Leone SPP deepens with multidisciplinary engagements (9007473) — Michigan-Sierra Leone SPP deepens with multidisciplinary engagements (9007473) 2025
Capt. Andrew Layton · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

KoiduMarket — KoiduMarket By 2007, probably 2000s
Brian Harrington Sprier · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

View of Bunce Island and its fort. After Smith — View of Bunce Island and its fort. After Smith 1746
Original title: Vuë de l'ile et du fort de Bense. Tirée de Smith
Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mrs. Kate Roachof Sierra Leone. — Mrs. Kate Roachof Sierra Leone. 1880–93
(artist not separately acknowledged) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Boys of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. — Boys of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. 1880–93
(artist not separately acknowledged) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Mission School of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. — Mission School of Mission School. Rotifunk, Sierra Leone. 1880–93
(artist not separately acknowledged) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Banknote of Sierra Leone — Banknote of Sierra Leone
Flosegura · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Pile of SLE banknotes — Pile of SLE banknotes
Ivanh1 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) — Helmet Mask for Sande Society (Ndoli jowei) 19th century
Unknown author Unknown author · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

One penny, cancelled at Freetown — One penny, cancelled at Freetown 1899
Post of British Empire · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

British West Africa penny — British West Africa penny 1936
Lamashtu2006 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

20 cent coin 1791 — 20 cent coin 1791 2018
Geni · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Kissi penny: twisted iron money — Kissi penny: twisted iron money Collected by 1931
Original title: Coin
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg · Source ↗ · Report this picture

20 Sierra Leone Cents (1964) — 20 Sierra Leone Cents (1964)
AKS.9955 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Sierra Leone 1964 Half Cent Obv — Sierra Leone 1964 Half Cent Obv 2010
Kratzbyrste · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Sierra Leone 1964 Half Cent Rev — Sierra Leone 1964 Half Cent Rev 1964
Kratzbyrste · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Locally-made metal-bladed axe, cowry shells and a coin left as an offering on a rock high above a farm in Wara Wara Bafodia Chiefdom, northe — Locally-made metal-bladed axe, cowry shells and a coin left as an offering on a rock high above a farm in Wara Wara Bafodia Chiefdom, northe 1968
John Atherton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Source ↗ · Report this picture

Kissi penny — Kissi penny 1880s or later
Original title: Coin, betalningsmedel, kissi penny
Public domain (CC0) · Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm · Source ↗ · Report this picture