Cotton Tree, Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Cotton Tree is a Ceiba pentandra, also known commonly as a kapok tree, a historic symbol of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. According to legend, the “Cotton Tree” gained importance in 1792 when a group of former African American slaves, who had gained their freedom by fighting for the British during the American War of Independence, settled the site of modern Freetown. These Black Loyalist settlers, called “Nova Scotians” because they came from Nova Scotia after leaving the United States and before they decided to go back to Africa or, “Navatians” in Sierra Leone, founded Freetown on March 11th 1792.
Epic Sierra Leon Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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