Bo, Sierra Leone

Bo, Sierra Leone

Bo also commonly referred to as Bo Town, is the second largest city in Sierra Leone (after Freetown) and the largest city in the Southern Province. The city serves as the capital of Bo District and lies approximately 155 miles south-east of Freetown and about 45 miles from Kenema. After Freetown, Bo is the leading financial, educational, transportational and commercial center of Sierra Leone.

The city of Bo is one of Sierra Leone's six municipalities and is locally governed by a directly elected city council, headed by a mayor. The municipality of Bo had a population of 149,957 in the 2004 census and a current estimate of 233,684.

The city is the primary home of Njala University, the second largest university in Sierra Leone, after the Fourah Bay College. Bo is also home to the The Bo Government Secondary School (commonly known as Bo School), which is one of the biggest and most prominent secondary schools in West Africa.

The city is home to a significant population of many of Sierra Leone's ethnic groups, though the Mende people make up the largest ethnic group in the city, but not in a majority. The Krio language is by far the most widely spoken language in Bo and is used as the primary language of communication in the city. The city's population is religiously diverse among muslims and christians.

As with the rest of Sierra Leone, football is by far the most popular sport in Bo. The Bo Rangers and the Nepean Stars, which are based in Bo, are the two professional football clubs that represent the city in the Sierra Leone National Premier League.