African Ethnographic Studies of the 20th Century

Originally published in 1957 this volume deals with the issue of large scale immigration into Freetown, Sierra Leone from the rural areas in the 1950s and the problems which arose as a result. It analyzes the way traditional social systems had to adjust to the demands of urban life and charts the growth of Freetown from its foundation in the 18th Century. The ethnic composition of its population  and the character of the rural districts from which the migrants come are also discussed, along with the motives for migration, the nature of housing and employment.