Krahn people
Photograph of a Kru woman in Liberia taken in 1906 by Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston.
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 214,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Ivory Coast
|
116,000 |
 Liberia
|
98,000 |
| Languages | |
|
Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Kru Western Kru Wee Guere–Krahn Guéré |
|
| Religion | |
| Primarily: Ethnic religions • Ivory Coast: Christianity (<5%) Evangelical (3%) • Liberia: Christianity (>5%) Evangelical (3.5%) |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
Krahn is an ethnic group of Liberia and Ivory Coast. This group belongs to the Kru language family and its people are sometimes referred to as the Wee, Guéré, Sapo, or Wobe. It is likely that Western contact with the Kru language is the primary reason for the development of these different names. The term Krahn may also be applied to denote the language spoken by this ethnic group.
The Krahn arrived in the area known as Liberia previously known as the "Grain Coast" as part of early sixteenth century migrations from the north-east and what is now the Ivory Coast. This migration occurred due to pressure on local populations resulting from an emigration of Western Sudan tribes after the decline of medieval empires, as well as an increase in regional tribal wars. During this timeframe, the African slave trade was becoming more prominent within Liberia. Although some Kru tribes faced capture by Westerners, it was more common for the Krahn and other coastal peoples in Liberia to serve as local traders, brokering deals within the Western slave market. The Kru were so opposed to slavery within their own tribe members that many committed suicide rather than face enslavement.
During the late 1970s Liberia faced a heated civil war in which opposition to the Americo-Liberian and Tolbert government, led to a military coup, organized in part by indigenous tribal members. The culmination of this coup came on April 12, 1980 when Krahn leader, Master Sergeant Samuel Kanyon Doe seized power, becoming the first native leader and Head of State. With a Krahn leader serving as a key political figure, the once disparaged and "uncivilized" Krahn were now given a place of honor within Liberia’s governing body. This rise in status led to many Krahn speakers moving from coastal and inland areas to the capital, Monrovia. In time, Doe began showing favoritism to the Krahn, particularly to those from his own tribal group. These measures included appointing members of the Krahn’s ethnic kin in Ivory Coast, known more commonly as the Wee, to the Executive Mansion Guard, as well as taking steps to prevent non-Krahn individuals from reaching key government positions.
By 1985 Doe’s fierce response to his opposition created a large contingent of “anti-Doe” supporters. In December 1989, exiles and local recruits began organizing military groups, resulting in another civil war, this time against Doe and his Krahn supporters. As this war progressed, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) began attacking Krahn civilians in Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties, destroying entire communities as they moved through the country. By mid-1990, the war had escalated, prompting foreign intervention. Unfortunately for Doe, this intervention was not to play in his favor, culminating in his kidnapping and execution by opposition forces. Following the removal of the Doe regime, and the continuation of the civil war, Krahn refugees began fleeing from Liberia to Ivory Coast, some taking the Krahn language with them. It was during this time that the sarpo, who are a member of the Krahn Speaking Group, begin to call themselves Sarpo because of fear, but Sarpo is one of the krahn Speaking group.
...
Wikipedia