Yengema

Yengema is a town in Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, lying approximately 14 miles (23 km) south-west Koidu Town (the largest city in Kono District), and about 142 miles (229 km) east of Freetown. The major industry in and around Yengema is diamond mining. The town is home to Yengema Airport, the main airport serving Kono District. A 2012 estimate of Yengema population was 13,358 people.[1]

Yengema, Sierra Leone
Yengema, Sierra Leone Location in Sierra Leone
Coordinates: 8°37′N 11°10′W
Country	Sierra Leone
Province	Eastern Province
District	Kono District
Population
• Total	13,358[1]
Time zone	UTC-5 (GMT)

The population of Yengema is ethnically diverse, though the majority of its residents are ethnic Mandingo and ethnic Kono. The primary language of communication in Yengema is the Krio language, which is widely spoken in the town.

Yengema is a predominantly Muslim town, though with a significant Christian minority population In the town.

Yengema is home to the Yengema Secondary School (commonly known as YSS), and is among the most prominent secondary schools in Sierra Leone.

Before the civil war, Yengema was one of the most populous cities in Eastern Sierra Leone. During the Sierra Leone civil war, Yengema was heavily damaged and constantly fought over due to the rich diamond reserves in the area. This forced many of the residents to flee the city.