1 lthough the people of the Protectorate who were domiciled in Freetown were not allowed to contest the seats in Freetown, the supporters of Bankole-Bright and other conservative Creole politicians blamed them for the political demise of the Creoles in the 1947 elections. The Tribal Administration Act of 1905 granted the chiefs, headmen, and alimamys of these non-Creole Freetownians the authority to
“[adjudicate ordinary] cases, saving time and giving men an easier hearing than they would otherwise obtain. They are useful as mouthpieces of the government in conveying orders to the people. They are of the greatest assistance in enquiring into matters for the police when the occasion demands, and in helping to bring fugitives to justice. The fact that they are representative men for each tribe … is a great factor in the reduction of crime as each headman is naturally anxious to stand well with the Government. The tribal ruler is also a local agent for members of the tribe who come down from the protectorate and medium for inter-tribal palavers in Freetown.”
(Banton 1957, 16-17)
While this Act granted the non-Creoles a right to live in Freetown, it also contributed to the protests, including acts of arson, against them becoming legitimate dwellers in the Creole communities.
2 Edna Elliot-Horton was Assistant Organizing Secretary of the Marxist-Leninist pol itical pressure group, the West African Youth League (WAYL), a break-away group National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA) (Denzer 1987b, 443).
3 Lorine Millar was assistant secretary of the Freetown branch of the WAYL (Denzer 1987b, 443).
4 Jane Doe, an 88-year old grandmother, was actively involved in the activities of the APC party between 1963 and 1991. She was interviewed in Freetown on 8 March 2018.