Bo, Sierra Leone : Ask Biography

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Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone (after the capital, Freetown) and the largest city in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The city had a population of 149,957 in the 2004 census, and a current estimate is 231,494 . Bo lies about 164 miles (by road) south-east of Freetown. The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District. After Freetown, Bo is the leading educational, transportational and commercial center of Sierra Leone.

The population of the city is ethnically and culturally diverse, though the Mende people make up the largest ethnic group. Like in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the Krio language is the most widely spoken language in Bo and is used as the primary language of communication in the city.

The city is the primary home of Njala University, the second largest university in Sierra Leone, after the Fourah Bay College in Freetown. The city is home to the Christ the King College, one of the most prominent colleges in Sierra Leone. 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 school not only attract students from all parts of Sierra Leone, but also attract international students from other West African nations.

The city is a political stronghold of Sierra Leone's main opposion party: the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). Since 2007, Bo has experience several political violence between supporters of the country's two major political parties: The All people's Congress (APC) and the main opposition the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).