Sierra Leoneans are mourning the toppling of a beloved ancient cotton tree that had become our national symbol and historic connection to the liberated slaves who founded the West African country.
The giant 70-metre Cotton Tree fall because of a heavy storm last week. It had towered for centuries over the heart of Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown, after its settlement by former slaves who returned to Africa from Britain and North America in the late 18th century.
The tree also symbolized what is believed to be the earliest site of contact between Canada and Africa. About 1,200 freed African American slaves, later known as the Nova Scotians, travelled to Sierra Leone by ship from Halifax in 1792. After holding a prayer meeting under the tree to give thanks for their safety, they named their new home “Free Town”
President Julius Maada Bio said the tree fell after a downpour on Wednesday night. He described it as a “great loss to the nation”. He said the tree was a symbol of liberty for early settlers. It also appears on Sierra Leone banknotes.
The city’s skyline has changed dramatically as a result of the loss of the tree which is a permanent loss.
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