Kissi, Southern in Sierra Leone

Introduction / History

There are two Kissi people divided by dialect. The Northern Kissi live only in Sierra Leone and the Southern Kissi live in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Kissi farmers eat rice as their staple food. They grow it on hillsides in wet, swampy areas. They also grow melons, potatoes, bananas, corn, peanuts, coffee and cotton. They might sell these, but they have personal gardens where they grow onions, peppers, tomatoes and beans. They raise livestock, particularly cattle. They don’t drink the milk; instead they use the cattle as sacrificial animals. Boys are usually delegated the responsibility for tending livestock.
Men and women share agricultural work, but men are expected to supplement their food supply by hunting and fishing. Women take care of their vegetable gardens and chickens. They are known for being hard workers.
Age is very important in Southern Kissi society. Children are not considered “complete” until they reach puberty. At that time, they have a purification ceremony which “cleanses” them and takes them into adulthood.
Each village has about 150 people, all of whom live in cone-shaped mud homes. They face the center where the village headman resides. That is also where they have their public square.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Southern Kissi people in Liberia have a greater Christian presence than those in Sierra Leone. Like many sub-Saharan African peoples, the Southern Kissi retain their ancient religious traditions. That includes the worship of ancestral spirits.

What Are Their Needs?

The Southern Kissi need to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Southern Kissi people to put all their faith in Jesus Christ rather than ancestral spirits.
Pray for the Lord to bless their crops as a sign of his power and kindness; may they give him praise!
Pray for Southern Kissi Christ followers to disciple others.

Text Source:   Joshua Project