Kissi people

The Kissi people, also called Assi, Bakoa, Den, Gihi, Gisi, Gissi, Gizi, Kisi, Kisie, Kisiye, Kizi, or even as Kalen[2][3] , are a West African ethnic group living in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. They speak the Kissi language, Bankole Taylor claims it belongs to the Mande branch of the Niger–Congo language family.[4] They are well known for making baskets and weaving on vertical looms. In past times they were also famous for their ironworking skills, as the country and its neighbors possess rich deposits of iron. Kissi smiths produced the famous "Kissi penny," iron money that was used widely in West and even Central Africa.

Not to be confused with Kisi people or Kisii people.
Kissi
Orchestra of Kissi conductors in 1900
Total population
891,843
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Kissi, French, English
Religion
Christianity • Traditional • Islam
Related ethnic groups
Bullom people, Gola people, Krim people, Mandenyi people, Loma people?

Economy

The Kissi are primarily farmers. Rice, their staple crop, is grown on most hillsides and in low, swampy areas. Other crops include peanuts, cotton, corn, bananas, potatoes, and melons. Beans, tomatoes, onions, and peppers are grown in small vegetable gardens, and coffee raised as a cash crop. Most of the farmers also raise some livestock.

Agricultural work, such as sowing, weeding, and harvesting, is shared equally by the men and women. Additional responsibilities for the men include hunting, fishing, and clearing land. The women's duties involve caring for the small vegetable gardens, tending to the chickens, trading in the local markets, and doing some fishing. Boys tend to livestock, which is usually cattle and goats. Cows are considered valuable animals, not for their milk, but as religious sacrifices.

Resistance to French conquest by Kissi Kaba Keita

In Guinea, the Kissi warrior Kissi Kaba Keita managed to unite many Kissi chiefdoms under his reign and resist French conquest for many years. Before French attacks, he had rallied the Kuranko's of Morige and the Lele's of Yombiro. When the French arrived in 1892, he had to let the relatively autonomous chiefs of the respective areas defend themselves. Due to the French's technological superiority, Kissi Kaba resorted mainly to guerilla tactics, thus delaying their conquest of his kingdom. Still, by 1893 he realized that his resistance would fail and subjected himself to the French, who then recognized him as chief of the northern Kissi territory. However, his relationship with the French gradually worsened, which led to them appointing his rivals in a number of his chiefdoms, and eventually to his execution in Siguiri.

Social systems

For many generations, Kissi are well known as hard-working people. They are very age-oriented, dominated and led by the chief and the elderly people. The Kissi live in small, self-governing villages that are tucked inside groves of mango or kola trees. Each village is compact, containing no more than about 150 people. Houses are usually raised slightly above the ground and are round with mud walls, cone-shaped thatch roofs, and verandahs. In the center of the village is a public square with a dwelling place for the village headman. He offers sacrifices at the village shrine and acts as judge over the community.

To the Kissi, a child is not considered "complete" and is thought of as dirty and impure. Therefore, when a boy or girl reaches puberty, a purification ritual is held. This ceremony, called a biriye, "cleanses" the child and ushers them into adulthood. Afterwards, the young adult is expected to take on adult responsibilities.

Music plays a unique role in the Kissi culture. Sometimes, it is used for certain types of communication. The music does not necessarily have a melody, but rather a rhythmic sound with much drumming and whistling.

Religion and spiritual beliefs

Although many Kissi have converted to Christianity, most of them continue to practice their traditional ethnic religion. Ancestor worship or praying to deceased relatives is a common practice among the Kissi. The Kissi believe that ancestral spirits act as mediators between them and the creator, god. Small stone statues are used to represent the spirits. They are worshipped and offered sacrifices by the village headmen. Many carved soapstone figures and heads were produced by the Kissi people in the past prior to colonial contact with the Europeans. It is not clear why they were made; some scholars argue that they form part of ancestor worship while others say they may represent gods to increase agricultural yields. A large number can be seen in the British Museum's collection.[5]

The Kissi constantly live in fear of the supernatural. They wear charms in order to protect themselves from the evil spirits. Witchcraft is also practiced by sorcerers and witches. Some of the elders and religious leaders communicate with spirits through trances and hypnosis. The biriye and other rituals are held in the forest since this is thought to be a sacred setting.

Surnames
N° NAMES N° NAMES N° NAMES N° NAMES
1 Balladouno 30 Kambedouno 59 Mongono 88 Togbodouno
2 Beindouno 31 Kandawadouno 60 Moundékéno 89 Tolno
3 Bengoutieno 32 Kankadouno 61 Oliano 90 Tonguino
4 Bolossiandouno 33 Kankodouno  62 Ouéndeno 91 Toumadouno/Toumandouno
5 Bongono 34 Kantabadouno 63 Ouéndouno 92 Toundoufédouno
6 Bongouno 35 Kassadouno 64 Sandouno 93 Tounguino
7 Bouédouno 36 Kassossodouno 65 Saninkoundouno 94 Wamouno
8 Bourouno 37 Kikano 66 Sayondouno 95 Woromandouno
9 Bramadouno 38 Kombadouno 67 Semadouno 96 Yaradouno
10 Danfagadouno 39 Komano 68 Sembèno 97 Yilandouno
11 Dembadouno 40 Kondano 69 Sesemadouno 98 Yokromouno
12 Doufangadouno 41 Kondiano 70 Sewadouno 99 Yombouno
13 Dougbouno 42 Kondouno 71 Simbiano
14 Douno 43 Koniono 72 Solano
15 Fancinadouno 44 Kotémbèdouno 73 Somadouno
16 Fangadouno 45 Koumassadouno 74 Somodouno
17 Fangamadouno 46 Koundouno 75 Sondouno
18 Feindouno 47 Kouteno 76 Songbono
19 Fouédouno 48 Lélano 77 Sossoadouno
20 Frangadouno 49 Léno 78 Souadouno
21 Fremessadouno 50 Malano 79 Soumadouno
22 Gbandélno 51 Mamadouno 80 Tagbino
23 Iffono 52 Mamboliano 81  Tambadouno
24 Kabadouno 53 Mandouno 82  Tédouno
25 Kadouno 54 Mano 83 Teliano
26 Kagbadouno 55 Mansadouno 84 Tèmbèdouno 
27 Kamano 56 Massadouno/Massandouno 85  Témèdouno 
28 Kamadouno 57 Millimono 86  Tèmèssadouno
29 Kambadouno 58 Millimouno 87 Teinguiano

Notable Kissi people

References
  1. "Sierra Leone 2015 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report" (PDF). Statistics Sierra Leone. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. https://data.bnf.fr/en/12200179/kissi__peuple_d_afrique_/
  3. George Tucker Childs. A Grammar of Kisi. p. 1. ISBN 978-3110-81-088-2.
  4. Bankole Kamara Taylor (2014). Sierra Leone: The Land, Its People and History. New Africa Pres. p. 149. ISBN 978-9987-16-038-9.
  5. British Museum Collection
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