MENU
SEARCH

Freemasonry and the Political History of Sierra Leone

£22.00
Available to Order
PayPal
Maestro Mastercard Visa Visa Electron America Express
  • DESCRIPTION

    This book examines the interplay between politics and Freemasonry in Sierra Leone.  A largely neglected subject, this project uniquely breaks new academic territory, and uses previously unseen archival records and testimony of Freemasons for its evidence.  Discussing the origins or Freemasonry in the 18th Century, and how it became inculcated with principles of universalism, cosmopolitanism and apoliticism, it then examines Freemasonry’s expansion with the British Empire and provides the first account of a lodge in Freetown in the early 19th Century.  Re-established in 1890, when the vector of transmission was both the Krio and British, it illustrates how Freemasonry assimilated itself into part of Krio elite culture in Freetown.  It uses the three principles identified above as a fresh analytical framework, provides an original history of Freemasonry in Sierra Leone, and explains how it developed into an institution based on a narrow social stratum in the capital city, failing to deliver on its ideals of equality and openness.  It reassesses Cohen’s thesis of the political role of Freemasonry, and argues that it remained, despite significant challenges in a turbulent political history, an apolitical institution.  It also demonstrates how it worked as a socio-political network for some members who were also politicians in the post-colonial state, particularly Solomon Pratt during President Stevens’ All People’s Congress government from 1968.  This was continued under the government of President Momoh from 1985, who’s prominence as an active Freemason came close to politicising the society before his removal in a coup in 1992.


    Pages 269
    Binding Type :Paperback Perfect Bound
    Interior Color : Black & White
    Dimensions  : A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 mm)



  • THE AUTHOR
    Rob Hammond

    Rob Hammond is North Wales Mason, initiated into Royal Denbigh Lodge No.1143 in 2012.  Born and bred in neighbouring Cheshire, after studying PPE at Oxford, with nothing better to do he joined the Army in 1991. Initially an infantry officer, he served in Norway, Kenya and Bosnia with the UN in 1994, before transferring to become a military educator.  In that capacity between 1996 and 2001 he served in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Sierra Leone, the latter becoming a lifetime academic interest.  He completed his MA at Lancaster University in 2004 and left the army in 2007 after his final operational tour in Iraq.  He then became an Associate Lecturer with the Open University, for whom he still works, and completed his PhD, titled Freemasonry and the Political History of Sierra Leone: 1890 – 1992, the subject of an article in AQC Vol.135 and published as a book in 2025. His research interests include Freemasonry in West Africa and North Wales, with further articles published in AQC on both subjects.  He is a full member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge. No. 2706, and editor of its transactions since 2025. Living on his wife’s family sheep farm, when he’s not working indoors with humans he’s working outdoors with animals, which is far preferable.


    Read More
    Rob Hammond
  • CUSTOMER REVIEWS

    Leave a review

    star
    star
    star
    star
    star
    *All submissions will be checked by our administration team before appearing on the site. Please be patient as we will try and approve your comments as quickly as possible.