Language Information

Mende is the most important native language of Sierra Leone, on the west coast of Africa. It is spoken by about 1½ million people, mainly in the southern half of the country. Mende is a member of the Mande branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages.

Family: Niger-Congo
Subgroup: Western Sudanic
Branch: Mande

Writing Sample

Translation

We beard the sad news of the death of our Prime Minister, Mr. Milton Margai. Dr. Margai died on the 28th of April at his home on the hill in Freetown. He had been ill for some months. The government had made arrangements to send him to England by air for treatment. But before they had completed these arrange-ments on that day, God was able to call him to go to Him. He died peacefully and went home to God at 10 P.M. that day.
Sir Milton was 68. They were able to bury this great man near Parliament Building in Freetown.