Kenema

Kenema is the administrative capital of Kenema District and the third largest city in Sierra Leone. Situated in the Eastern Province, it is the commercial hub of the country's diamond-mining region and a significant centre for Mende culture and craft.

The city is known for its kpokpo (a local gin), its vibrant markets, and its position at the crossroads of routes connecting Freetown with Bo, the border with Liberia, and the Eastern mining districts. Kenema's Mende heritage is expressed through the Sande and Poro societies, traditional masquerades, and a strong tradition of tie-dye cloth (gara) for which the region is regionally renowned.