Sailing the Seas of History: Uncovering the Story of Freetown's Ship Lanterns
Admire the splendour of this timeless lantern form
ReadPassenger-Cargo Ship RSL Zyto (1997)Original Source: Young Men's Muslim Association
Introducing Freetown's lanterns
For over a century it was the custom every year in Freetown for large illuminated floats called lanterns to be paraded through the streets at night, originally to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Although the tradition spread elsewhere in the country it was in the capital city that lanterns attracted the most interest.
Lantern depicting a shipOriginal Source: Sierra Leone National Museum
Ships - an impressive lantern form
The earliest lanterns (first described in a newspaper report in 1895) were built in the form of boats, probably smaller but otherwise similar to this ship lantern which was photographed in the 1960s. Large ship lanterns remained a popular lantern form throughout the 20th century.
The crew of 'HMS Clarkson' in action 1997 by King Tom Rovers Lantern ClubSierra Leone National Museum
A ship lantern in action
A particularly impressive ship lantern, built in King Tom in 1997, was called 'HMS Clarkson' (after the first Governor of Sierra Leone). Its massive framework was capable of carrying several club members who acted as the ship's crew on the night of the parade.
Plans used for designing a ship lantern (1993) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
A ship lantern by design
In 1993 a ship lantern called 'HMS Revolution' was built in Tengbeh Town. It was based on plans drawn up by an experienced lantern builder who had worked as a carpenter for a shipping company in King Tom in the 1940s.
HMS Revolution 1993 by Tengbeh Town Lantern ClubSierra Leone National Museum
Commemorating a coup
'HMS Revolution' led the 1993 lantern parade which, unusually at the time, did not celebrate the end of Ramadan but was specially organised to mark the first anniversary of the coup in April 1992 that brought the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) to power.
‘HMS Clarkson’ under construction (1997) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
Ship lanterns in keeping with tradition
Both 'HMS Clarkson' and 'HMS Revolution' were covered with finely cut paper designs called kaidi. Lantern club members required skill, time and patience to produce and apply this traditional form of lantern decoration.
‘FF Abana Watta 001’ (1990)Original Source: Congo Market Lantern Club
Freetown ship lanterns and their wider links
Freetown's mighty ship lanterns were undoubtedly connected to a wider float tradition in West Africa via the centuries old maritime trade in which the city and the ships that used its huge natural harbour played a vital part.
Gambian fanaal (1987) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
Float building in The Gambia
Freetown traders visiting The Gambia in the 19th century came across small floats (called fanaals). They were almost certainly similar to those still being built and paraded there at night a century later during the Christmas-New Year festive period.
Decorative paperwork on a Gambian fanaal (1987) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
Fanaal ship imagery and decoration in The Gambia
Fanaals were always built in the form of ships and covered with intricate paperwork (which the kaidi used in Freetown replicated exactly). It is believed that Freetown traders decided to adopt The Gambia's float tradition as a way to mark the end of Ramadan in their home city.
Illustration showing a lantern being paraded in St. Louis (Senegal) (1876/1877)Original Source: Eugène Blanguernon in Le Journal Illustré (Paris 1877)
The fanaal tradition in Senegal
Gambians maintain that their fanaal tradition originated in Senegal. A European traveller recorded fanaals (one of which depicted a ship) in 1876 in St Louis.
Lantern depicting a ship (1982) by Robin PoynorOriginal Source: Professor Robin Poynor
Ship imagery in the 20th century
Ship imagery, which was so influential in the development of the fanaal and lantern traditions, was a constant source of inspiration for Freetown lantern builders who throughout the 20th century developed new styles of ship lantern and decoration.
‘ECOMOG vessel SS Sandy' (1993) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
A modern warship
This lantern, photographed the morning after the 1993 lantern parade, was covered not with kaidi but in a modern style with sheets of painted paper. It depicts a warship named after Lt. Sahr Samuel Sandy who was killed during the NPRC coup of 1992.
‘Maersk Line Container Boat’ (1997) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
A container boat
Not content with club members acting as the crew, lantern builders introduced more action into their ship lanterns. New building techniques enabled this 1997 lantern to off-load a model container onto the pavement in front of the judges.
Passenger-cargo ship ‘RSL Zyto’ (1997) by Jennifer OramOriginal Source: Jennifer Oram
Ship lanterns and the future
Building ship lanterns is a costly and highly skilled enterprise. Hopefully the necessary funds and expertise will continue to be available to enable ship imagery to retain its special place in any lantern parades that may take place in the future.
