The Development of the Creole Society of Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

The study is concerned with an analysis of the social stratification system of Freetown society from 1787 onwards in terms of Max Weber's three orders of the economic, (to which he limited the term 'class'), the social (which is composed of status groups based on differential honor), and political power (which Weber associated with parties or power-seeking groups). The study is also interested in the degree of consistency or crystallization between these three criteria at different phases in Freetown's history. The methodology employed is the historical procedure. An analysis is made of mission societies' reports, Government publications, loyal newspapers and printed works of travellers for the light they throw on styles of life of the different groups in Freetown with particular reference to Weber's criteria. [truncated]