‘We Don’t Perform Ritual Anymore’: Market Access and the Evolution of Hunting Practices in Sierra Leone

Abstract (English)

This paper examines the transformation of hunting rituals in rural Sierra Leone amid rapid socioeconomic change. Increasingly, rural-urban connectivity achieved in the post-war period has streamlined market access to enable hunters to supply urban markets more quickly and readily using motorcycle taxi transport. We argue that increasing market integration and shifting livelihood strategies are reconfiguring the significance and practice of hunting rituals, particularly among younger generations. While ritual practices have historically played a crucial role in mediating relationships between hunters, animals, and the supernatural, our findings reveal a marked decline in their perceived importance among many younger, casual hunters who prioritise efficiency and profit. However, this decline is not uniform. Many hunters, especially individuals for whom hunting activities make up a large part of their livelihood portfolio, continue to value rituals as sources of protection and luck. This variance suggests a more complex dynamic than simple erosion of tradition. By situating these changes within the broader context of post-war Sierra Leone’s socioeconomic transformation, including improved rural-urban connectivity and the proliferation of motorcycle taxis, we provide insight into how traditional practices evolve in response to ‘modernising’ forces. This study contributes to anthropological debates on the resilience and transformation of cultural traditions in rapidly changing social landscapes, challenging simplistic narratives of tradition versus modernity.