The Kingdom of Kquoja or Koya or Koya Temne, or the Temne Kingdom (1505–1896), was a pre-colonial African state in the north of present-day Sierra Leone.
The kingdom was founded by the Temne ethnic group in or around 1505 by migrants from the north, seeking trade with the coastal Portuguese in the south.
The kingdom was ruled by a king called a Bai or Obai. The sub-kingdoms within the state were ruled by nobles titled "Gbana". The Koya Kingdom kept and maintained diplomatic relations with the British and French in the 18th century. Children of Temne nobles were allowed to seek western educations abroad. Koya also traded with Islamic states to its north and had Muslims within its borders.
Under Nembanga's reign (1775–1793), the Koya kingdom signed a treaty, which made it possible for the establishment of a British colony on the peninsula of Sierra Leone in 1788.
Koya participated in the trans-atlantic slave trade, though sources state that such commerce was much more privatized than in other kingdoms. Subjects of Koya traded in slaves on the coast even against the wishes of the state at times.
From 1801 to 1807, Koya fought a war with British colonists and the Susu. Koya lost the northern shoreline of Sierra Leone to the British and Port Loko to the Susu. However, they remained a power in the region. In 1815, the Temne fought another war with the Susu and regained the port. In 1841, the Temne defeated the Loko tribe of Kasona on the Mabaole River dispersing many of the people. In response to a British bombardment, the kingdom expelled the Church Missionary Society missionaries operating at Magbela in 1860.
The kingdom became a British protectorate on 31 August 1896 after which the Koya kings lost virtually all power. Revolts of the Temne and Mende in 1898 were fierce but futile. The British would govern the area of the former kingdom until 1961.
List of Temne monarchs
Names and Dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989).[1]
^Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. p. 155. ISBN0-89950-390-X.
Sources
Worldstatesmen
Adam Jones, "The Kquoja Kingdom: A Forest State in Seventeenth Century West Africa," Paideuma 29 (1983): 23–43.
December 01, 2023
kingdom, koya, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, june, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, kingd. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Kingdom of Kquoja or Koya or Koya Temne or the Temne Kingdom 1505 1896 was a pre colonial African state in the north of present day Sierra Leone The kingdom was founded by the Temne ethnic group in or around 1505 by migrants from the north seeking trade with the coastal Portuguese in the south The kingdom was ruled by a king called a Bai or Obai The sub kingdoms within the state were ruled by nobles titled Gbana The Koya Kingdom kept and maintained diplomatic relations with the British and French in the 18th century Children of Temne nobles were allowed to seek western educations abroad Koya also traded with Islamic states to its north and had Muslims within its borders Under Nembanga s reign 1775 1793 the Koya kingdom signed a treaty which made it possible for the establishment of a British colony on the peninsula of Sierra Leone in 1788 Koya participated in the trans atlantic slave trade though sources state that such commerce was much more privatized than in other kingdoms Subjects of Koya traded in slaves on the coast even against the wishes of the state at times From 1801 to 1807 Koya fought a war with British colonists and the Susu Koya lost the northern shoreline of Sierra Leone to the British and Port Loko to the Susu However they remained a power in the region In 1815 the Temne fought another war with the Susu and regained the port In 1841 the Temne defeated the Loko tribe of Kasona on the Mabaole River dispersing many of the people In response to a British bombardment the kingdom expelled the Church Missionary Society missionaries operating at Magbela in 1860 The kingdom became a British protectorate on 31 August 1896 after which the Koya kings lost virtually all power Revolts of the Temne and Mende in 1898 were fierce but futile The British would govern the area of the former kingdom until 1961 List of Temne monarchsNames and Dates taken from John Stewart s African States and Rulers 1989 1 Name Reign Start Reign End1 Farima I c 1505 c 15502 Farima II c 1550 c 15603 Farima III c 1560 16054 Sangrafare or Pedro 1605 16105 Borea I 1610 16306 Borea II 1630 16647 Felipe II 1664 16808 Naimbanna I 1680 17209 Naimbanna II 1720 11 November 1793 citation needed 10 Farima IV 1793 180711 Bai Foki 1807 181712 Moriba 1817 182513 Jack Coby or Kunia Banna 1825 182614 Fatima 1826 184015 Moribu Kindo 1840 185916 Bai Kanta or Alexander 1859 1872 Alimani Lahai Bundu Regent 1872 189017 Bai Kompa or William Rowe 1890 189818 Fula Mansa Gbanka 1898Sub Kings of Ko Fransa1 Tom I 1770 17782 Jimmy 1778 17963 Tom II 1796 1807References Stewart John 1989 African States and Rulers London McFarland p 155 ISBN 0 89950 390 X SourcesWorldstatesmen Sierra Leonean Heroes Wars of the World Adam Jones The Kquoja Kingdom A Forest State in Seventeenth Century West Africa Paideuma 29 1983 23 43 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kingdom of Koya amp oldid 1184207929, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
