Society of Sierra Leone

thumb|Sjoerd Hofstra: Boys returning from their initiation in the Poro. Panguma, Sierra Leone, 1936 The Poro, or Purrah or Purroh, is a men's secret society in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and the Ivory Coast, introduced by the Mane people (the Mande Elites leading large-scale migrations from the Mali Empire into the southern coastal areas). It is sometimes referred to as a hunting society and only men are admitted to its ranks. The female counterpart of the Poro society is the Sande society.

overview of the status of women in Sierra Leone