By Fatmata Jengbe
Fear gripped Makeli Village in Konike Barina Chiefdom, Tonkolili District, in April 2020 when Jerisco Kamara was declared wanted by members of the feared Poro, also known locally as the Sokobana Secret Society, after he reportedly refused to succeed his late father, Alie Yamba Kamara, as head of the powerful traditional institution.
From what eyewitnesses informed this medium, the tension began shortly after the death of Alie Yamba Kamara, who until his passing was widely known as the head of the Poro or Sokobana Secret Society in Makeli Village. According to some family members, elders of the society summoned Jerisco Kamara and informed him that, as the first son of Alie Yamba Kamara, he was expected to inherit the leadership position as tradition demanded.
Jerisco Kamara reportedly explained to the elders that he was not prepared to assume such a role and respectfully declined the offer. However, it was learnt that the elders insisted that he had no choice in the matter, arguing that succession in the Poro or Sokobana Secret Society was a sacred traditional rite that could not be questioned or rejected. Sources within the community further disclosed that to head the society, the person chosen must undergo a rigorous esoteric induction for a considerable period of time in the sacred bush, where secret rituals are performed and spiritual authority is conferred. Eyewitnesses said Jerisco Kamara’s refusal to subject himself to such induction angered senior members of the society, who viewed his decision as an act of defiance against ancestral authority.
Makeli Village, where poverty is rife and traditional beliefs remain deeply entrenched, is said to hold the Poro or Sokobana Secret Society in awe and fear. The society is exclusively for men and is known for performing rituals during annual initiation ceremonies held in secluded bush areas. It is widely rumoured within and beyond Konike Barina Chiefdom that members are compelled during initiation to eat human bodily parts and drink human blood, while initiates are made to swear solemn oaths never to disclose what they experienced in the sacred bush.
Some residents told this medium that over the years, there have been whispered accounts of initiates losing their lives during forceful initiation rites. According to community sources, when deaths occur in the initiation bush, it is often announced that the victim was swallowed by the “Sokobana devil.” However, it is rumoured that in some cases the deceased may have been eaten as part of ritual practices. It was further learnt that because members believe there is an obligation for human sacrifices to be made, such incidents are never reported to the Police.
Eyewitnesses recounted that in April 2020, elders of the Poro or Sokobana Secret Society allegedly came for Jerisco Kamara in an attempt to compel him to take up the mantle left by Alie Yamba Kamara. Sensing imminent danger, Jerisco Kamara managed to escape from Makeli Village. His sudden disappearance reportedly intensified the anger of the society’s elders.
According to some family members, following his escape, the elders declared Jerisco Kamara wanted and warned that if he were caught, they would unleash their venom on him in a caustic manner. It was learnt that threats circulated within the village that if he survived such punishment, it would only be through divine protection or mere luck.
Since the incident, residents of Makeli Village have remained tight-lipped, fearful of speaking openly about the Poro or Sokobana Secret Society. The atmosphere in the community, from what eyewitnesses described, continues to be overshadowed by silence and anxiety, as traditions handed down by ancestors clash with the personal choices of individuals like Jerisco Kamara.
