Hunted by tradition: Man in hiding after refusing Poro initiation

Wednesday, 1 October 2025

A 38-year-old man from northern Sierra Leone is reportedly living in hiding after facing alleged threats and persecution for refusing to be initiated into the Poro secret society, a powerful traditional institution in parts of West Africa.

Aruna Kamara, a native of Kolisoko village in the Makarie Gbantie Chiefdom, Bombali District, told this medium in an exclusive interview that his ordeal began following the death of his father, Pa Lamin Kamara, in July 2025. According to long-standing tradition, deceased elders of the Poro society are expected to be replaced by their eldest male child.

But rejected the demand out of fear for his life, citing what he described as torture, inhumane treatment, and, in some cases, death allegedly inflicted on initiates during rituals carried out in the bush.

He explained that his grandfather had been a senior stakeholder in the society and that, upon his grandfather’s death, his father was initiated at the age of five.

“My father always warned me never to join the Poro society because of its devastating consequences,” Aruna said. He said that his father later suffered lifelong health complications, which he believes were linked to torture meted out during his initiation. He further alleged that his father’s death on 28 July 2025 was connected to the long-term effects of those experiences.

According to Aruna, following his father’s death, Poro elders took the body into the bush for seven days to perform traditional rites, placing a heavy financial burden on the family. As the only male child among two sisters, he said the pressure on him to assume his father’s role within the society intensified.

A father of two, Aruna said he stopped visiting his hometown due to continuous threats from members of the society, led by Pa Alie Raka Kargbo. He further claimed that members of the society, many of whom he said are close relatives-continued to pursue him at his residence in Calaba Town, eastern Freetown. This, he said, forced him to relocate to western Freetown, where he sought refuge at the home of a friend identified only as Owen, leaving his wife and children behind.

A reliable source informed this medium that Aruna’swife Sallay Naomie kamara was levied a fine by the members of the poro secret society for insulting them during their visit to her husband’s house at Calabatown. As a result she was ordered by the local chief Pa Alimamy Tholey to observe the customs with levied oftwo sheep, five fouls, seven bushels of rice, two goats and ten gallons of palm oil  to cleanse the curse and avert the calamity associated with her action.

After spending a couple of weeks in hiding at his friend’s house, members of the society again led by Pa Alie Raka Kargbo discovered his whereabouts. He saidthey warned Owen to stop harbouring him or risk being afflicted with a serious ailment that no medical practitioner or traditional healer could cure. Acknowledging the superstitious powers widely attributed to the Poro society, Owen reportedly asked Aruna to leave his house.

He said that following the persistent persecution, he reported the matter on two occasions at the CalabaTown Police Station and later at the Eastern Police Division, but alleged that no meaningful action was taken.

“I was treated in a lukewarm manner,” Aruna said, stating that the influence of the Poro society extends into law enforcement and political circles.

Despite relocating from eastern to western Freetown, there was no safe haven for Aruna within Sierra Leone or even in neighbouring countries. The Poro society operates across much of West Africa and wields significant social and political influence.

Human rights advocates have raised concerns over forced initiation into secret societies, particularly where such practices conflict with constitutional rights to freedom of association and personal liberty. 

While customary practices are recognised under Sierra Leonean law, legal experts maintain that they cannot supersede fundamental human rights but the reality remain different.

‎Kamara’s case underscores a broader dilemma facing Sierra Leone and the region: how to reconcile deeply entrenched traditional institutions with modern legal systems designed to protect individual rights. Until that balance is addressed, critics warn, fear, displacement and silence will continue to define the lives of those who dare to refuse.