The British colony of Sierra Leone had been founded in 1792 with the settlement in Freetown. As the 19th century progressed, the colony expanded its influence and control farther inland. This was spurred further by the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, and in 1896 the British declared a protectorate over hinterlands of Sierra Leone. In was in this era of increasing British influence that the girl Soma was born, around 1849. Upon coming of age, she adopted the name Yoko during her Sande society initiation. Her first start in politics was likely…
