Sierra Leonean Creole is an English-based creole language
spoken in Sierra Leone by about 4.5 million people, 500,000
of whom speak it as a native languages. It is used as a lingua
franca in Sierra Leone and is spoken by about 97% of the population.
There are also communities of speakers in The Gambia, Nigeria,
Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Sierra Leonean Creole developed from the languages, such as Yoruba
and Igo, and varieties of English brought to Sierra Leone by Nova
Scotian settles, Moroons from Jamaica and many freed African slaves.
Some of Shakespeare's plays and the Bible have been translated
into Krio. Since the 1990s Krio has been used as a medium of instruction
in some primary schools, and politicians in Sierra Leone give speeches
in Krio.
Sierra Leonean Creole alphabet and pronunciation
Ortography devised by Thomas Decker. Information provided by Michael Peter Füstumum
Sample texts
Krio
Atikul Wan: Ɛvribɔdi bɔn fri ɛn gɛt in yon rayt, nɔn wan nɔ pas in kɔmpin. Wi ɔl ebul fɔ tink ɛn fɛnɔt wetin rayt ɛn rɔŋ pantap dat wi fɔ sabi aw fɔ liv lɛk wan big famili.
High Krio (Salontòk)
Òll mòrtalmandèm bòrn fri èn ekwal pan dignity èn raihtdèm. Dhèm gèt ratio èn kònskièntia èn fòr akt with dhèm kòmpin na bròdharhudim spirit.
Another version
ɛvribɔdi bɔn fri ɛn gɛt in yon rayt, nɔn
wan nɔ pas in kɔmpin. Wi ɔl ebul fɔ tink ɛn
fɛnɔt wetin rayt ɛn rɔɧ pantap dat wi fɔ
sabi aw fɔ liv lɛk wan big famili.
Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
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