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Cargolux

2025-11-03T03:54:48Z

2600:8800:49E:3B00:E951:E191:5C52:B4D1: /* Accidents and incidents */

{{Short description|Cargo airline of Luxembourg}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Cargolux
| logo = Cargolux Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| image = LX-VCF@HKG (20190501121917).jpg
| caption = Cargolux [[Boeing 747-8|747-8R7F]] in standard livery
| IATA = CV<ref name=iata>{{cite web|title=IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search|url=http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx|website=iata.org|access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref>
| ICAO = CLX
| callsign = CARGOLUX
| parent =
| founded = {{start date and age|1970|03|04|df=yes}}
| commenced = {{start date and age|1970|05||df=yes}}
| key_people = Richard Forson ([[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| num_employees = 2,000 (2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=Best year in history for Cargolux Group Luxembourg |url=https://www.clusterforlogistics.lu/blog/detail/2018/04/best-year-in-history-for-cargolux-group-luxembourg |website=www.clusterforlogistics.lu |language=en}}</ref>
| headquarters = [[Sandweiler]], [[Luxembourg]]
| aoc =
| hubs = [[Luxembourg Airport]]
| subsidiaries = [[Cargolux Italia]]
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| fleet_size = 26
| destinations = 90
| website = {{URL|www.cargolux.com}}
}}

'''Cargolux''', officially known as ''Cargolux Airlines International S.A.'', is the [[flag carrier]] [[cargo airline]] of [[Luxembourg]], with its [[headquarters]] and [[Airline hub|hub]] at [[Luxembourg Airport]].<ref>"[http://www.cargolux.com/Customers/NetworkOffices.php?eurM=Luxembourg# Network & Offices Luxembourg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708120953/http://www.cargolux.com/Customers/NetworkOffices.php?eurM=Luxembourg |date=2011-07-08 }}." Cargolux. Retrieved on 15 May 2010. "Cargolux Head Office Luxembourg Airport L 2990 Luxembourg"</ref> With a global network, it is among the largest scheduled all-cargo airlines in the world. The airline also offers charter flights and third-party maintenance.<ref name="FI">{{cite news|title= Directory: World Airlines|work= [[Flight International]]|page= 61|date= 2007-04-03}}</ref> It has 85 offices in over 50 countries as of 2018, and operates a global trucking network to more than 250 destinations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clusterforlogistics.lu/blog/detail/2018/04/best-year-in-history-for-cargolux-group-luxembourg|title=Best year in history for Cargolux Group Luxembourg|website=www.clusterforlogistics.lu|language=en|access-date=2020-04-22}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Cargolux B747-400F.jpg|thumb|A Cargolux [[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400F]] during loading]]
[[File:LX-VCM Boeing 747-8F Cargolux "Cutaway" (22262143611).jpg|thumb|A Cargolux [[Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8F]] in a special "cutaway" livery celebrating the airline's 45th anniversary.]]
The airline was established in March 1970 by [[Luxair]], the Salen Shipping Group, [[Loftleiðir]], and various private interests in Luxembourg. Einar Ólafsson was the airline's first employee and CEO.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Kristján Már Unnarsson |title=Andstaða forstjóra Flugleiða við Cargolux réð því að hluturinn fór |url=https://www.visir.is/g/20252715831d/segja-and-stodu-for-stjora-flug-leida-vid-cargolux-hafa-radid-thvi-ad-hluturinn-for |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=[[Vísir.is]] |date=17 April 2025 |language=Icelandic}}</ref> It started operations in May 1970 with one [[Canadair CL-44]] freighter with services from Luxembourg to [[Kai Tak Airport|Hong Kong]]. Over the next two years, the airline grew, as did its public visibility.<ref>[http://www.cargolux.com/Company/History.php "In the beginning"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919080158/http://www.cargolux.com/Company/History.php |date=September 19, 2011 }}, ''Cargolux''. Retrieved 9 September 2011.</ref>

By 1973, Cargolux had five CL-44s and made the leap into the jet age by acquiring a [[Douglas DC-8]]. This enabled the company to speed up its cargo deliveries. In 1974, Loftleiðir and Cargolux amalgamated their maintenance and engineering departments, and by 1975, Cargolux enjoyed new facilities consisting of central offices and two [[hangar]]s.

In 1978, the airline began to take shape into the company it is today. The CL-44s began to be retired and the airline ordered its first [[Boeing 747]]s. In that same year it also began flying to other places in Asia, as well as to the United States. In 1979, as the company concluded its first decade, its first Boeing 747s were delivered.

In 1982, [[China Airlines]] became the first airline company to sign a strategic alliance with Cargolux.

1983 saw the introduction of the CHAMP (Cargo Handling and Management Planning) computer system and the start of some charter passenger flights for the [[Hajj]] pilgrimage.

1984 saw the departure of the last Douglas DC-8 in the fleet and the addition of a third Boeing 747. [[Lufthansa]] bought a 24.5% share of the airline in 1987 and Luxair increased its share to 24.53%.

1988 saw the birth of Lion Air, a passenger [[charter airline]] established by both Cargolux and Luxair. The airline had two Boeing 747s but Cargolux's venture into the passenger charter airline world proved to be an issue with the Luxembourg government and soon Lion Air folded.

Despite that setback, Cargolux made it into the 1990s in proper financial shape. It added two more Boeing 747s in 1990, as a way of celebrating its 20th anniversary, and in 1993, three [[Boeing 747-400]]Fs arrived at Luxembourg. In 1995 Cargolux had a year-long celebration of its 25th anniversary and Heiner Wilkens was named CEO and President.

In 1997, [[Luxair]] was able to increase its share to 34%, while in September that year Lufthansa sold its 24.5% stake to SAir Logistics; and [[Swissair|Swissair Cargo]] made a cooperation agreement with the Luxembourg company. The following year SAir Logistics increased its share to 33%.

By 1999, Cargolux's fleet had reached double figures, with 10 Boeing 747s. In 2000 a route was opened to [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]], and in 2001 Wilkens decided to step down as president and CEO of the air company.

In 2006, Cargolux built a new hangar which can hold two Boeing 747s simultaneously. It houses the maintenance and engineering department, which at the time had over 490 maintenance employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Knowledge Bites: Cargolux: How Luxembourg's freight airline became one of the largest in the world |url=https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/knowledge-bites/a/1582283.html |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=today.rtl.lu |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2010, Ulrich Ogiermann, the chief executive officer of Cargolux was indicted on suspicion of price-fixing;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/29/349125/cargolux-chief-indicted-over-alleged-price-fix-conspiracy.html|access-date=2010-10-31|title=Cargolux chief indicted over alleged price-fix conspiracy}}</ref> After pleading guilty, he was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-at-1602.html/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713051330/http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-at-1602.html/|date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> In November 2010, Cargolux was fined for price-fixing by the [[European Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/09/349520/eleven-airlines-fined-in-european-cargo-cartel-investigation.html|access-date=2010-11-10|title=Eleven airlines fined in European cargo cartel investigation}}</ref>

On 8 September 2011, [[Qatar Airways]] purchased a 35% share in the company making it the second largest shareholder after [[Luxair]] (43.4%). The other shareholders were the [[Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat]] (10.9%) and the [[Société Nationale de Crédit et d'Investissement]] (10.7%).<ref>[https://archive.today/20120919002022/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/business/articles/2011/09/160933/index.php "Cargolux to extend network thanks to partnership"], ''Wort-lu''. Retrieved 9 September 2011.</ref> In November 2012 Qatar Airways announced plans to sell its stake after strategic differences with other major shareholders<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qatar-airways-ditches-cargolux-stake-379125/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Qatar Airways ditches Cargolux stake|date=2012-11-16}}</ref> such as whether the interim CEO and CFO, Richard Forson, should become the permanent CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wort.lu/en/view/it-s-official-qatar-airways-to-split-from-cargolux-50a6b47ce4b023430fcba1a0/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=It's official: Qatar Airways to split from Cargolux}}</ref> Unions had claimed Forson was effectively a Qatar Airways representative<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/cargolux-unions-against-bigger-control-qatar-airways-0327/|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Cargolux unions against bigger control by Qatar Airways}}</ref> after comments he made about relocating maintenance to the Middle East and rumours of plans for aircraft to be re-registered in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/air/unions-fear-qatar-move-on-cargolux/20017995561.htm|access-date=2012-11-17|title=Unions fear Qatar move on Cargolux}}</ref> Qatar Airways sold its share to the [[Government of Luxembourg]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 January 2012 |title=Qatar Airways confirms Cargolux stake sale |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE90C048/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref> which then sold that share to Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment, a Chinese company, for $120 million in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2013 |title=Luxembourg to sell Cargolux stake to Chinese investors |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL6N0JX2KC/ |access-date=15 May 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref> As part of that agreement, Cargolux launched a
service from Luxembourg to [[Zhengzhou]] in [[Henan]].<ref name=AW>{{cite journal|journal=Airliner World|issue=March 2014|page=9}}</ref> According to the Dutch [[Open-source intelligence|OSINT]] platform [[Datenna]], Henan Civil Aviation's stake in Cargolux leads to a high risk of state influence on Cargolux by the Chinese government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Henan Civil Aviation invested in Cargolux Airlines |url=https://visuals.datenna.com/china-eu-fdi-radar/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Datenna |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Cargolux entered into a joint venture with Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment to create Henan Cargo Airlines, and holds a 25% stake in the operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-businessreport.com/article/we-invested-in-a-new-fleet-of-747-8f-aircraft-which-are-a-lot-more-environmentally-friendly/ |title=We invested in a new fleet of 747-8F aircraft, which are a lot more environmentally friendly |publisher=The Business Report |date=22 January 2018 |access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>

On 17 September 2011 Cargolux announced that it would not accept the first two [[Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8F]] aircraft it had ordered, scheduled for delivery within a few days, due to "unresolved contractual issues between [[Boeing]] and [the airline]" concerning the aircraft.<ref>[http://www.cargolux.com/Press/PressReleases.php?nid=297 "Cargolux rejects delivery of Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924185707/http://www.cargolux.com/Press/PressReleases.php?nid=297 |date=2011-09-24 }}. Cargolux, 17 September 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/09/19/362225/cargolux-747-8f-dispute-linked-to-late-qatar-787-deliveries.html "Cargolux 747-8F dispute linked to late Qatar 787 deliveries"]. Air Transport Intelligence news via flightglobal.com, 19 September 2011.</ref>
After resolving their contractual issues, Boeing handed over the first 747-8F to Cargolux in [[Everett, Washington]] on 12 October 2011. The freighter then flew to [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]] and picked up cargo before flying to Luxembourg.<ref>Ostrower, Jon. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-boeing-delivers-first-747-8f-363348/ "Boeing delivers first 747-8F"]. Flightglobal.com, 12 October 2011.</ref>

In 2019, Cargolux sponsored a flight for two [[Beluga whale|Beluga whales]] from China to a marine wildlife sanctuary in [[Iceland]], in partnership with the Sea Life Trust and the [[Whale and Dolphin Conservation]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-22 |title=Belugas on board from China to Iceland |url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/yourluxembourg/whatshappening/belugas-on-board-from-china-to-iceland/1314642.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=luxembourg-times-online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-06-20 |title=Cargolux completes beluga whale flight |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-completes-beluga-whale-flight/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Video: Cargolux transports two Beluga whales from China to Iceland |url=https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1581996.html |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=today.rtl.lu |language=en}}</ref>

Cargo 2000 — an industry group within the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) consisting of some 80 major airlines, freight forwarders, ground handling agents, trucking companies and IT providers — announced on 15 March 2012 at its annual general meeting, that Cargolux Airlines International S.A. had gained Cargo 2000 platinum membership status.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cargolux Achieves Cargo2000 Platinum Membership Status|url=http://www.amcham.lu/about-us/media-center/news/detail/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=149|website=Amcham Luxembourg|date=16 March 2012|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404215534/http://www.amcham.lu/about-us/media-center/news/detail/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=149|archive-date=4 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In June 2020, Cargolux and Unilode extended their partnership with a new agreement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cargolux and Unilode extend partnership |url=https://www.globalcargonews.com/cargolux-and-unilode-extend-partnership |access-date=14 July 2020 |publisher=Global Cargo News |date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714120431/https://www.globalcargonews.com/cargolux-and-unilode-extend-partnership |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2022, Cargolux sold its remaining shares in CHAMP Cargosystems to [[SITA (business services company)|SITA]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cargolux sells shares in spin-off company |url=https://delano.lu/article/cargolux-has-sold-champ-cargos |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=delano.lu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeffrey |first=Rebecca |date=2022-01-25 |title=American Airlines and CHAMP extend partnership |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/technology/airfreight-digitisation/american-airlines-and-champ-extend-partnership/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref>

Cargolux inaugurated a new [[aerial firefighting]] business unit in 2024, which will operate a fleet of 12 aircraft, three of which have already been delivered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Damian |date=2024-01-15 |title=Cargolux diversifies into aerial firefighting |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-diversifies-into-aerial-firefighting/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuenca |first=Oliver |date=2023-11-22 |title=Cargolux to acquire firefighting fleet |url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/cargolux-acquire-firefighting-fleet |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=AirMed&Rescue |language=en}}</ref> Also in 2024, Cargolux and [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] signed a contract for more than 140,000 tonnes of [[Electrofuel|e-SAF]] (e-Sustainable Aviation Fuel) to be supplied by Norsk e-Fuel from 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brett |first=Damian |date=2024-01-17 |title=Cargolux signs up for e-SAF to power freighters |url=https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/cargolux-signs-up-for-e-saf-to-power-freighters/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Air Cargo News |language=en}}</ref>

==Destinations==
Cargolux covers 90 destinations, 70 of which are served on scheduled all-cargo flights as of 2018.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Network">{{cite web|title=Flight destinations|url=https://www.cargolux.com/network/|website=Cargolux}}</ref>

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!Country/Region
!City
!Airport
!Notes
!Refs
|-
|Austria||[[Vienna]]||[[Vienna Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Bahrain||[[Manama]]||[[Bahrain International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="4"|Brazil||[[Campinas]]||[[Viracopos International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Curitiba]]||[[Afonso Pena International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Petrolina]]||[[Petrolina Airport| Petrolina Senador Nilo Coelho International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Rio de Janeiro]]||[[Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Canada||[[Calgary]]||[[Calgary International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
| rowspan="4" |China||[[Beijing]]||[[Beijing Capital International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Shanghai]]||[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Xiamen]]||[[Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Zhengzhou]]||[[Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Ecuador||[[Quito]]||[[Mariscal Sucre International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Hong Kong
|[[Hong Kong]]
|[[Hong Kong International Airport]]
| align="center" |
| align="center" |<ref name="Network" />
|-
|Hungary||[[Budapest]]||[[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Indonesia||[[Jakarta]]||[[Soekarno–Hatta International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Italy||[[Milan]]||[[Milan Malpensa Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|Japan||[[Komatsu, Ishikawa|Komatsu]]||[[Komatsu Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Tokyo]]||[[Narita International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Kenya||[[Nairobi]]||[[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Luxembourg||[[Luxembourg City]]||[[Luxembourg Airport]]||{{Airline hub}}||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|Malaysia||[[Kuala Lumpur]]||[[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Penang]]||[[Penang International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|Mexico||[[Guadalajara]]||[[Guadalajara International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Mexico City]]||[[Felipe Ángeles International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Netherlands||[[Amsterdam]]||[[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Puerto Rico||[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]||[[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Singapore||[[Singapore]]||[[Changi Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|South Africa||[[Johannesburg]]||[[O. R. Tambo International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|South Korea||[[Seoul]]||[[Incheon International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Taiwan||[[Taipei]]||[[Taoyuan International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Thailand||[[Bangkok]]||[[Suvarnabhumi Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|Turkmenistan||[[Ashgabat]]||[[Ashgabat International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|United Arab Emirates||[[Dubai]]||[[Al Maktoum International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|United Kingdom||[[Glasgow]]||[[Glasgow Prestwick Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[London]]||[[London Stansted Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="10"|United States||[[Atlanta]]||[[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Chicago]]||[[O'Hare International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]||[[Rickenbacker International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Dallas]]||[[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Houston]]||[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Indianapolis]]||[[Indianapolis International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Los Angeles]]||[[Los Angeles International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Miami]]||[[Miami International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[New York City]]||[[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Seattle]]||[[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|rowspan="2"|Vietnam||[[Hanoi]]||[[Noi Bai International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|[[Ho Chi Minh City]]||[[Tan Son Nhat International Airport]]||align=center| ||align=center|<ref name="Network"/>
|-
|}

==Fleet==
===Current fleet===
[[File:Cargolux 747-8F N5573S over Fresno.jpg|thumb|A Cargolux [[Boeing 747-8|Boeing 747-8F]]]]
{{As of|2025|8}}, Cargolux operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Cargolux |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=66}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Cargolux fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!In service
!Orders
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400ERF]]
|6
|—
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400F]]
|6
|—
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747-8F]]
|14
|—
|Launch customer.<br />Includes the [[Boeing 747-8F|Boeing 747-8]] prototype.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
|-
|[[Boeing 777-8|Boeing 777-8F]]
|—
|10
|Order with 6 options.<br />To receive deliveries by 2027.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Boeing and Cargolux finalize 777-8 Freighter order|url=https://www.cargolux.com/media/media-releases/2022/boeing-and-cargolux-finalize-777-8-freighter-order/|access-date=2022-10-12|website=Cargolux|language=en}}</ref>
|-
!Total
!26
!10
! colspan="2" |
|}

=== Former fleet ===
In the past, Cargolux has previously operated the following aircraft:{{cn|date=March 2024}}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Cargolux former fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 747-100|Boeing 747-100F]]
|6
|1986
|1988
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747-200|Boeing 747-200F]]
|13
|1979
|2003
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400BCF]]
|3
|2010
|2016
|
|-
|[[Canadair CL-44]]
|6
|1970
|1978
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-53CF]]
|1
|1978
|1979
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-54CF]]
|1
|1985
|1985
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-55CF]]
|1
|1974
|1975
|Leased from [[Seaboard World Airlines]].
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-63CF]]
|10
|1973
|1984
|
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
[[File:Damaged Cargolux B747-4R7F (LX-TCV) at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.jpg|thumb|A Cargolux 747-400F with registration "LX-TCV" involved in an accident where the landing gear collapsed while the aircraft was still on the ground ([[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]], January 2006)]]
*2 December 1970: Canadair CL-44J, [[aircraft registration]] ''TF-LLG'', crashed on approach to [[Tejgaon Airport]]. All four crew members and three people on the ground were killed. Investigators concluded that the [[gust lock]] system engaged and locked the controls in flight due to a hydraulic fault.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19701202-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Canadair CL-44J TF-LLG Dhaka-Tejgaon Airport (DAC) |author= |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
*1 November 1992: [[Boeing 747-200|Boeing 747-228F]] ''LX-DCV'' was substantially damaged when the outermost right-hand engine was torn away and the engine pylon was pushed through the wing on touchdown at [[Luxembourg-Findel Airport]] (LUX).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19921101-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-228F LX-DCV Luxembourg-Findel Airport (LUX) |author= |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
*21 January 2010: Boeing 747-4R7F ''LX-OCV'', operating as [[Cargolux Flight 7933|Flight 7933]], touched down on the roof of a maintenance van on the active runway at LUX, badly damaging the van and causing minor damage to an aircraft tire. The 747 taxied to the parking area without incident. The accident was attributed to the failure of [[air traffic control]] (ATC) to ensure that the maintenance crew had cleared the runway, inadequate coordination between ATC and the airport maintenance department, and the inappropriate decision to perform maintenance on an active runway in low visibility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100121-2 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-4R7F LX-OCV Luxembourg-Findel Airport (LUX) |author= |website=aviation-safety.net |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Cargolux Italia]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Cargolux}}
*{{official|http://www.cargolux.com}}
*[https://anniversary.cargolux.com/ Cargolux 50], the company's 50th-anniversary retrospective

{{Portalbar|Luxembourg|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Luxembourg}}
{{IATA members|europe}}
{{Association of European Airlines}}
{{A4E}}

[[Category:Airlines of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1970]]
[[Category:Airlines for Europe]]
[[Category:Cargo airlines]]
[[Category:Companies based in Luxembourg City]]
[[Category:1970 in Luxembourg]]

Freetown

2025-11-03T01:20:32Z

2600:8800:49E:3B00:E951:E191:5C52:B4D1: /* Tourism */

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Sierra Leone}}
{{About|the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| other_name =
| name = Freetown
| native_name = Fritɔun
| native_name_lang = kri
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]] and [[municipality]]
| motto =
|image_skyline = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|perrow = 1/2/2
|total_width = 290
|caption_align = center
|image1 = Freetown-aerialview.jpg
|caption1 = Aerial view
|image2 = Freetown_Court_1984.jpg
|caption2 = Freetown Court and Cotton Tree
|image3 = Freetown street (13992704238).jpg
|caption3 = Downtown Freetown
|image4 = Sierra Leone National Stadium.jpg
|caption4 = [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|Sierra Leone National Stadium]]
|image5 = Freetown 06 10 (13).jpg
|caption5 = [[State House, Sierra Leone|Sierra Leone State House]]
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Freetown, Sierra Leone.png
| flag_size =
| image_seal = Coatofarms_freetown.png
| seal_size = 100
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Sierra Leone # Africa
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_relief = 1
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Sierra Leone}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = [[Western Area]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Sierra Leone|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Western Area Urban District]]
| government_type = [[City council]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980// |title=Sierra Leone capital Freetown elects female mayor, the first since 1980 |website=africanews.com |date=21 March 2018 |access-date=30 April 2018 |archive-date=1 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093103/http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980// |url-status=live }}</ref> ([[All People's Congress|APC]])
| leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = March 11, 1792
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| unit_pref = metric
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Western Area Urban (District in Sierra Leone) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/sierraleone-admin.php?adm1id=42 |website=citypopulation.de |access-date=16 August 2017 |archive-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816191325/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/sierraleone-admin.php?adm1id=42 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 82.48
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| population_as_of = 2024 Census<ref name="2024Census">{{cite web |title=2024 Population and Housing Census Key Figures Fact Sheet |url=https://www.statistics.sl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2015_census_fact-sheet.pdf |website=statistics.sl |publisher=Statistics Sierra Leone |access-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001303/https://www.statistics.sl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2015_census_fact-sheet.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 1,347,559
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_metro = 1,500,234
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset = ±00:00
| coordinates = {{coord|8|29|14|N|13|14|8|W|city_region:SL-W||display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 26
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Tropical monsoon climate|Am]]
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| website = {{URL|https://fcc.gov.sl/}}
}}

'''Freetown''' ({{langx|kri|Fritɔun}}) is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Sierra Leone]]. It is a major [[port city]] on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and is located in the [[Western Area]] of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and political centre, as it is the seat of the [[Government of Sierra Leone]]. The population of Freetown was 1,347,559 as of the 2024 census.<ref name="2015Census">{{cite web |title=2015 Population and Housing Census Key Figures Fact Sheet |url=https://www.statistics.sl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2015_census_fact-sheet.pdf |website=statistics.sl |publisher=Statistics Sierra Leone |access-date=16 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001303/https://www.statistics.sl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2015_census_fact-sheet.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The city's economy revolves largely around its [[harbour]], which occupies a part of the estuary of the [[Sierra Leone River]] in one of the world's largest natural deep water harbours.

Although the city has traditionally been the homeland of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]], the population of Freetown is [[ethnically]], [[culturally]], and religiously diverse. The city is home to a significant population of all of Sierra Leone's [[Ethnic groups in Sierra Leone|ethnic group]]s, with no single ethnic group forming more than 27% of the city's population. As in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the [[Krio language]] of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]] is Freetown's primary language of communication and is by far the most widely spoken language in the city.

The city of Freetown was founded on March 11, 1792, by 1,196 [[Nova Scotian Settlers|African Americans]] under the guidance of [[abolitionist]] [[John Clarkson (abolitionist)|Lieutenant John Clarkson]] at the foot of the [[Cotton Tree (Sierra Leone)|Cotton Tree]], and the city became a settlement for free and freed [[African American]], [[Afro-Caribbean]] and [[Liberated African]] slaves. Their descendants are known as the [[Sierra Leone Creole people|Creole people]]. Before the arrival of Europeans, the local [[Temne people|Temne]] and [[Loko people]] were living in villages on the land near the area that later became known as Freetown.

Freetown is locally governed by a [[directly elected]] [[Freetown City Council]], headed by a mayor, who also is directly elected; elections are held every four years. The mayor of Freetown is Yvonne Aki Sawyerr, who was sworn in on 11 May 2018, after her victory in the 2018 mayoral election; she was re-elected in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980// |title=Sierra Leone capital Freetown elects female mayor, the first since 1980 |website=www.africanews.com |date=21 March 2018 |access-date=30 April 2018 |archive-date=26 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426021214/http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Freetown [[city council]] has its own [[municipal police]] force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sl/drwebsite/exec/view.cgi?archive=6&num=15499&printer=1 |title=In Sierra Leone, 140 Metropolitan Police Officers pass out |publisher= |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610222924/http://news.sl/drwebsite/exec/view.cgi?archive=6&num=15499&printer=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== History ==
{{For timeline}}

The area around the [[Sierra Leone estuary]] has been inhabited for millennia. The earliest known group in the area was the [[Bullom people]].{{sfn|Rodney|1970|p=42}} In the 1540s and 50s, the [[Mane people]] invaded the area and established their own chiefdoms, integrating into the local Bullom.{{sfn|Rodney|1970|p=47}} In January 1568, the English slave raider [[John Hawkins (naval commander)|John Hawkins]] helped the Mane king Flansire destroy Bonga, headquarters of the rebellious chief Falma. Bonga was a town of around 10 000 people located in the area that would become Freetown.{{sfn|Rodney|1970|p=53-4}}

=== Province of Freedom (1787–1789) ===
The area was settled in 1787 by 400 formerly [[Slavery|enslaved]] black people sent from London, England, under the auspices of the [[Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor]], an organisation set up by the English merchant and philanthropist, [[Jonas Hanway]], and the British abolitionist, [[Granville Sharp]].<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 109</ref> These black people were African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Africans, Southeast Asians, and black people born in Great Britain. They established the 'Province of Freedom' and the settlement of Granville Town on land purchased from local [[Koya Temne]] subchief King Tom and regent Naimbana.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Trillo |first1=Richard |title=West Africa: The Rough Guide |last2=Hudgens |first2=Jim |date=November 1995 |publisher=The Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-85828-101-8 |edition=2nd |series=Rough Guides |location=London |pages=545–549 }}</ref> The British understood the purchase meant that their new settlers had the land "for ever." Although the established arrangement between Europeans and the Koya Temne included provisions for permanent settlement, some historians question how well the Koya leaders understood the agreement, as they had a different conception of the uses of property.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Disputes soon broke out. King Tom's successor, King Jimmy, burnt the settlement to the ground in 1789. [[Alexander Falconbridge]] was sent to Sierra Leone in 1791 to collect the remaining Black Poor settlers, and they re-established Granville Town around the area now known as [[Cline Town|Cline Town, Sierra Leone]] near [[Fourah Bay]]. These 1787 settlers did not formally establish Freetown, even though the bicentennial of Freetown was celebrated in 1987; formally, Freetown was founded in 1792.<ref>Shaw, Rosalind, ''Memories of the Slave Trade: Ritual and the Historical Imagination in Sierra Leone.'' Reconstructed  by Mohamed Sheriff, Memphis, Tennessee, [[University of Chicago Press]] (2002), p. 37.</ref>

=== Freetown settlement and the Colony of Sierra Leone (1792–1808) ===

In 1791, [[Thomas Peters (revolutionary)|Thomas Peters]], an African American who had served in the [[Black Pioneers]], went to England to report the grievances of the black population in [[Nova Scotia]]. Some of these African Americans were ex-slaves who had escaped to the British forces who had been given their freedom and resettled there by the Crown after the [[American Revolution]]. Land grants and assistance in starting the settlements had been intermittent and slow.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

During his visit, Peters met with the directors of the [[Sierra Leone Company]] and learned of proposals for a new settlement at Sierra Leone. Despite the collapse of the 1787 colony, the directors were eager to recruit settlers to Sierra Leone. [[Lieutenant John Clarkson, RN]], who was an abolitionist, was sent to Nova Scotia in [[British North America]] to register immigrants to take to Sierra Leone for a new settlement.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Tired of the harsh weather and racial discrimination in Nova Scotia, more than 1,100 former American slaves chose to go to Sierra Leone.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} They sailed in 15 ships and arrived in St. George Bay between 26 February – 9 March 1792.<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Freetown Freetown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020063815/https://www.britannica.com/place/Freetown |date=20 October 2018 }}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on 24 June 2019</ref> Sixty-four settlers died en route to Sierra Leone, and Lieutenant Clarkson was among those taken ill during the voyage. Upon reaching Sierra Leone, Clarkson and some of the Nova Scotian 'captains' "dispatched on shore to clear or make roadway for their landing". The Nova Scotians were to build Freetown on the former site of the first Granville Town, where jungle had taken over since its destruction in 1789. Its surviving Old Settlers had relocated to Fourah Bay in 1791.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

At Freetown, the women remained in the ships while the men worked to clear the land. Lt. Clarkson told the men to clear the land until they reached a large cotton tree (''[[Ceiba pentandra]]''). After the work had been done and the land cleared, all the Nova Scotians, men and women, disembarked and marched towards the thick forest and to the cotton tree, and their preachers (all African Americans) began singing "Awake and Sing of Moses and the Lamb."{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In March 1792, Nathaniel Gilbert, a white preacher, prayed and preached a sermon under the large [[Cotton Tree (Sierra Leone)|Cotton Tree]], and Reverend [[David George (Baptist)|David George]], from South Carolina, preached the first recorded [[Baptist]] service in Africa. The land was dedicated and christened 'Free Town,' as ordered by the Sierra Leone Company Directors. This was the first thanksgiving service.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

John Clarkson was sworn in as first governor of Sierra Leone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Institution |first=Smithsonian |title=Governor John Clarkson's diary and the origins of Sierra Leone {{!}} Smithsonian Institution |url=https://www.si.edu/object/siris_sil_788517 |access-date=9 February 2025 |website=Smithsonian Institution |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kup |first=A. P. |date=1972 |title=John Clarkson and the Sierra Leone Company |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/217514 |journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=203–220 |doi=10.2307/217514 |jstor=217514 |issn=0361-7882 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=20 March 2023 |access-date=9 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320012259/https://www.jstor.org/stable/217514 |url-status=live }}</ref> Small huts were erected before the rainy season. The Sierra Leone Company surveyors and the settlers built Freetown on the American grid pattern, with parallel streets and wide roads, with the largest being Water Street. On 24 August 1792, the Black Poor or Old Settlers of the second Granville Town were incorporated into the new Sierra Leone Colony, but remained at Granville Town.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 1793, the settlers sent a petition to the Sierra Leone Company expressing concerns about the treatment that they were enduring.<ref>Settlers' Petition, # 19, page. 35, Our Children Free and Happy</ref> The settlers in particular objected to being issued currency that was only redeemable at a company owned store. They also claimed that the governor, a Mr. Dawes, ruled in an almost tyrannical fashion, favoring certain people over others when ruling the settlement. The writers then argued that they had not received the amount of land that Lt. Clarkson had promised them on leaving Nova Scotia. The letter expressed anxiety that the company was not treating them as freemen, but as slaves and requested that Lt. Clarkson return as governor.

Freetown survived being pillaged by the French in 1794, and was rebuilt by the settlers. By 1798, Freetown had between 300 and 400 houses with architecture resembling that of the United States – stone foundations with wooden superstructures. Eventually this style of housing, built by the Nova Scotians, would be the model for the 'bod oses' of their [[Sierra Leone Creole people|Creole]] descendants.

In 1800, the Nova Scotians rebelled. The colonial authorities used the arrival of about 550 [[Jamaican Maroons]] to suppress the insurrection. Thirty-four Nova Scotians were banished and sent to either the [[Sherbro Island|Sherbro]] or a penal colony at Gore. Some of the Nova Scotians were eventually allowed back into Freetown. After the Maroons captured the Nova Scotian rebels, they were granted their land. Eventually the Maroons had their own district, which came to be known as [[Maroon Town, Sierra Leone|Maroon Town]].

=== Freetown as a Crown Colony (1808–1961) ===
[[File:A view of Freetown, 1803.jpg|thumb|Freetown in 1803]]

[[Temne people|Themne people]] attacked the colony in 1801 and were repulsed. The British eventually took control of Freetown, making it a [[Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate|Crown Colony]] in 1808. This act accompanied expansion that led to the creation of Sierra Leone.

From 1808 to 1874, the city served as the capital of [[British West Africa]]. It also served as the base for the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[West Africa Squadron]], which was charged with enforcing the ban on the slave trade. When the squadron liberated slaves on trading ships, they brought most to Sierra Leone, and Freetown in particular; thus, the population grew to include descendants of many different peoples from all over the west coast of Africa. The British also situated three of their [[Mixed Commission Court]]s in Freetown.<ref name=Adderley>{{cite book |last1=Adderley |first1=Rosanne Marion |title="New negroes from Africa" slave trade abolition and free African settlement in the nineteenth-century Caribbean |date=2006 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |isbn=978-0-253-21827-8}}</ref>

[[File:Freetown, Sierra Leone ca 1856.jpg|thumb|Freetown in 1856]]
The liberated Africans established the suburbs of Freetown Peninsula. They were the largest group of immigrants to make up the Creole people of Freetown. The city expanded rapidly. The freed slaves were joined by West Indian and African soldiers, who had fought for Britain in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and settled here afterwards. Descendants of the freed slaves who settled in Sierra Leone between 1787 and around 1885, are called the [[Sierra Leone Creole people|Creoles]]. The Creoles play a leading role in the city, although they are a minority of the overall Sierra Leone population.

In the 1890s, ethnic tension flared between [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] residents and traders and the various native ethnicities of Sierra Leone, which led to Lebanese shops being destroyed in cities<ref name=":0" /> including Freetown.

During World War I Freetown became a base for operations of British forces in the Atlantic. Warships came into the port to resupply and German merchant vessels captured in the region were also sent there.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/africa/sierra-leone/ |title=The National Archives - Homepage |first=The National |last=Archives |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024020856/http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/africa/sierra-leone/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Britain maintained a naval base at Freetown. The base was a staging post for [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] traffic in the South Atlantic and the assembly point for [[SL convoys]] to Britain. An [[RAF]] base was maintained at nearby [[Lungi International Airport|Lungi airfield]]. British fighter aircraft which were shipped into Freetown port, were carried on the [[Sierra Leone Government Railway]] to Makeni to be assembled and flown to Egypt.

=== Civil war, 1990s to early 2000s ===
{{Main|Siege of Freetown}}
The city was the scene of fierce fighting in the late 1990s during the [[Sierra Leone Civil War]]. It was captured by [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]] troops seeking to restore President [[Ahmad Tejan Kabbah]] in 1998. Later it was unsuccessfully attacked by rebels of the [[Revolutionary United Front]].

===Mudslide disaster, 2017===
{{main|2017 Sierra Leone mudslides}}
In the early morning on 14 August 2017, after much heavy rain, part of Mount Sugar Loaf on an edge of Freetown collapsed in a huge mudslide which drowned over 300 people in Regent town. [[Deforestation]] has been blamed for the landslide.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/sierra-leone-landslide-hundreds-feared-buried-houses-submerged/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/sierra-leone-landslide-hundreds-feared-buried-houses-submerged/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Sierra Leone landslide: More than 300 killed as roads turn into 'churning rivers of mud' |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=14 August 2017 |access-date=21 August 2017 |last1=Boyle |first1=Danny}}{{cbignore }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/665dd272-8100-11e7-94e2-c5b903247afd |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/665dd272-8100-11e7-94e2-c5b903247afd |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |title=Hundreds killed in Sierra Leone mudslide |website=Financial Times |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=21 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/08/sierra-leone-mudslide-170816053741558.html |title=Sierra Leone mudslide: What, where and why? |website=Aljazeera |access-date=21 August 2017 |archive-date=20 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820230405/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/08/sierra-leone-mudslide-170816053741558.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sierra Leone fuel tanker explosion, 2021===
{{main|2021 Sierra Leone fuel tanker explosion}}
On 5 November 2021, a fuel tank truck collided with another truck in Freetown, resulting in an explosion killing at least 99 and injuring around 100.

== Geography ==

{{multiple image
|align = center
|total_width = 765
|image1 =Freetown SPOT 1094.jpg
|caption1 = Satellite picture of Freetown, 2006
|image3 = Freetown overview map.svg
|caption3 = A map of central Freetown
|image4 = Sierra Leone Freetown location map.png
|caption4 = A map showing the broader area of the Freetown Municipality
}}
Freetown borders the Atlantic Ocean and the [[Western Area Rural District]]. Freetown municipality is politically divided into three regions: East End, Central and West End of Freetown. The wards in the East End of Freetown (East I, East II, and East III) contain the city's largest population centre and generally the poorest part of the city. The [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]] is located within East End. The [[Lion Mountains]] sit southeast to Freetown.

The two central wards (Central I and Central II) make up Central Freetown, which includes Downtown Freetown and the central business district (Central II). Most of the tallest and most important national government building and foreign embassies are based in Central Freetown.

Sierra Leone's [[Sierra Leone House of Parliament|House of Parliament]] and the [[State House (Sierra Leone)|State House]], the principal workplace of the [[president of Sierra Leone]], are on [[Tower Hill (Sierra Leone)|Tower Hill]] in central Freetown. The [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|National Stadium]], the home stadium of the [[Sierra Leone national football team]] (popularly known as the [[Leone Stars]]) is in the Brookfield neighborhood.

The three westernmost wards (West I, West II, and West III) of the city constitute the West End of Freetown. These wards are relatively affluent. Most of the city's luxury hotels, a number of casinos, and Lumley Beach are in the west end of the city. The West End neighbourhood of Hill Station is home to the [[State Lodge]], the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone.

== Climate ==

Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Freetown has a [[tropical climate]] with a [[rainy season]] from May through November; the balance of the year represents the [[dry season]]. The beginning and end of the rainy season is marked by strong [[thunderstorms]]. Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Freetown has a [[tropical monsoon climate]] (''Am'') primarily due to the heavy amount of precipitation it receives during the rainy season.

Freetown's high [[humidity]] is somewhat relieved December through February by the famous [[Harmattan]], a wind blowing from the [[Sahara Desert]], affording Freetown its coolest period of the year. Temperature extremes recorded in Freetown are from {{convert|15|C}} to {{convert|38|C}} all year. The average annual temperature is around {{convert|28|C|}}.
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Freetown, Sierra Leone (1961–1990, extremes 1947–1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 36.0
|Feb record high C = 38.0
|Mar record high C = 38.0
|Apr record high C = 38.5
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 35.0
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 31.0
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 36.5
|Dec record high C = 33.5
|year record high C = 38.5
|Jan high C = 29.9
|Feb high C = 30.3
|Mar high C = 30.9
|Apr high C = 31.2
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 30.1
|Jul high C = 28.7
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 29.0
|Oct high C = 29.9
|Nov high C = 30.1
|Dec high C = 29.7
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 27.3
|Feb mean C = 27.6
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 28.5
|May mean C = 28.3
|Jun mean C = 27.4
|Jul mean C = 26.3
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 26.4
|Oct mean C = 27.1
|Nov mean C = 27.7
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 23.8
|Feb low C = 24.0
|Mar low C = 24.4
|Apr low C = 24.8
|May low C = 24.4
|Jun low C = 23.6
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 23.1
|Oct low C = 23.4
|Nov low C = 24.0
|Dec low C = 24.1
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = 15.0
|Feb record low C = 17.8
|Mar record low C = 19.4
|Apr record low C = 20.0
|May record low C = 20.6
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 19.4
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 19.4
|Nov record low C = 20.0
|Dec record low C = 15.6
|year record low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 8.0
|Feb rain mm = 6.0
|Mar rain mm = 28.0
|Apr rain mm = 68.0
|May rain mm = 214.0
|Jun rain mm = 522.0
|Jul rain mm = 1190.0
|Aug rain mm = 1078.0
|Sep rain mm = 800.0
|Oct rain mm = 333.0
|Nov rain mm = 148.0
|Dec rain mm = 38.0
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 1
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 15
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 27
|Aug rain days = 27
|Sep rain days = 24
|Oct rain days = 21
|Nov rain days = 9
|Dec rain days = 2
|year rain days =
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 68
|May humidity = 73
|Jun humidity = 76
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 69
|year humidity =
|Jan sun = 226.3
|Feb sun = 215.6
|Mar sun = 232.5
|Apr sun = 207.0
|May sun = 189.1
|Jun sun = 153.0
|Jul sun = 102.3
|Aug sun = 86.8
|Sep sun = 126.0
|Oct sun = 186.0
|Nov sun = 198.0
|Dec sun = 161.2
|year sun =
|source = NOAA,<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/SL/61856.TXT |title=Freetown Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523003741/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/SL/61856.TXT |archive-date=23 May 2024 |url-status=dead |access-date=7 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |title=Climatological Information for Freetown, Sierra Leone |publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]] |access-date=25 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124020507/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |archive-date=24 November 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes),<ref name = DWD>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_618560_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Freetown-Lunghi (Flugh.) / Sierra Leone |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=7 February 2016 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915101644/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_618560_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
|source 2 = Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.globalbioclimatics.org/station/si-freet.htm |title=Sierra Leone - Freetown |publisher=Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016035049/https://globalbioclimatics.org/station/si-freet.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Further|Religion in Sierra Leone|Languages of Sierra Leone}}
Freetown is home to a large population of both Muslims and Christians, though Muslims make up the majority of the population. In the youth populations of both faiths can be found a significant [[Progressivism|liberal]] influence. Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Freetown is a religiously tolerant city, with Muslims and Christians living side by side peacefully.

As in many parts of Sierra Leone, the [[Krio language]] (the English-based creole language of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]] who make up 5% of the country's population) is by far the most widely spoken language in the city. The language is spoken at home as a [[first language]] by over 20% of the city's population and is spoken as a [[lingua franca]] by a large number of the population in the city. English (the country's official language) is also widely spoken, particularly by the well-educated. [[Temne language|Themne]] is the second most spoken language in Freetown after Krio. The [[Temne people|Themne people]] also make up the largest members of the population of Freetown and the Western Area Region.

{{Historical populations
| 1974 | 276,247
| 1985 | 469,776
| 2004 | 772,873
| 2015 | 1,055,964
| 2024 | 1,347,559
| align = none
| footnote = source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/sierraleone/cities/ |title=Sierra Leone: Provinces, Districts, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=25 December 2020 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016080933/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/sierraleone/cities/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

== Government ==
The city of Freetown is one of Sierra Leone's six municipalities and is governed by a [[directly elected]] [[city council]], headed by a mayor, in whom [[executive authority]] is vested. The current mayor is [[Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr]]. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city. The mayor and members of the Freetown City Council are elected directly by the residents of Freetown every four years.

The government of the Freetown Municipality has been dominated by [[All People's Congress]] (APC) since 2004. Since 2004, the residents of Freetown have voted in municipal elections for members of the All People's Congress (APC) by an overwhelming majority. The APC won the city's mayorship and vast majority seats in the Freetown city council in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2018 local elections by more than 67% each.

In Presidential elections Freetown is considered a swing city, as it has a large support base of both the All People's Congress and the [[Sierra Leone People's Party]]. However, the APC has won majority percent of the votes in Freetown in the 2007, 2012 and 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential election, including The APC winning more than 65% of the votes in Freetown in both The 2012 and 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential elections. The APC presidential candidate [[Ernest Bai Koroma]] received 69% of the votes in Freetown in the 2012 Sierra Leone Presidential election; compared to the SLPP presidential candidate [[Julius Maada Bio]] who received 30%. In the 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential election, The APC presidential candidate [[Samura Kamara]] received 65% compared to the SLPP presidential candidate Julius Maada Bio who received 34%, though Maada Bio won the presidential election nationally.

In November 2011, Freetown Mayor [[Herbert George-Williams]] was removed from office and replaced by council member Alhaji Gibril Kanu as acting mayor. Mayor Herbert George-Williams and eight others, including the Chief Administrator of the Freetown city council Bowenson Fredrick Philips; and the Freetown city council Treasurer Sylvester Momoh Konnehi, were arrested and indicted by the [[Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission]] on twenty-five counts on [[graft (politics)|graft]] charges, ranging from [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] to commit corruption to misappropriation of [[public funds]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7AS0AR20111129 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203083439/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7AS0AR20111129 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |title=Sierra Leone indicts Freetown mayor for graft |work=Reuters |last=Akam |first=Simon |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=19 August 2022 }}</ref> Mayor [[Herbert George-Williams]] was acquitted of seventeen of the nineteen charges against him. He was convicted of two less serious charges by the Freetown [[High Court]] judge Jon Bosco Katutsi and sentenced to pay a [[fine (penalty)|fine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/spip.php?article6638 |title=Freetown: Mayor, Five Others Sentenced |work=The Patriotic Vanguard |date=15 August 2012 |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=2 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602063450/http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/spip.php?article6638 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201208170197.html |title=Sierra Leone: Mayor, Others to Pay Le455 Million or Risk Three-Year Jail |work=All Africa |last=Kamara |first=Patrick J. |date=16 August 2012 |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016171846/http://allafrica.com/stories/201208170197.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Acting Mayor Kanu lost the APC nomination for the mayor of Freetown in the 2012 Mayoral elections by 56 votes; council member Sam Franklyn Bode Gibson won 106 in a landslide victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cocorioko.net/?p=36480 |title=Councillor Bode Gibson Wins The Freetown APC Mayoral Candidate Contest |work=Cocorioko |access-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110034409/http://www.cocorioko.net/?p=36480 |archive-date=10 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bintumani.forumchitchat.com/post/Acting-Mayor-Blast-Krio-Tribalism-in-Freetown-City-Council-5975300 |title=Acting Mayor Blast Krio Tribalism in Freetown City Council |website=bintumani.forumchitchat.com |access-date=25 December 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807062950/http://bintumani.forumchitchat.com/post/Acting-Mayor-Blast-Krio-Tribalism-in-Freetown-City-Council-5975300 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the national presidential and parliamentary elections, Freetown is similar to [[swing states]] in [[American politics]]. As the city is so [[ethnically]] diverse, no single ethnic group forms a majority of the population of the city. Historically, the APC and the SLPP, two of the country's major political parties, have had about equal support in the city. In the 2007 Sierra Leone Presidential election, the APC candidate and then main opposition leader, [[Ernest Bai Koroma]], won just over 60% of the votes in the [[Western Area Urban District]], including the city of Freetown, where almost the entire District population reside.

== Culture ==
The city has the [[Sierra Leone National Museum]] and [[Sierra Leone National Railway Museum]]. There are also various historical landmarks connected to its founding by [[African Americans]], [[Liberated African]]s, and [[Afro-Caribbean]]s whose descendants are the [[Sierra Leone Creole]] people.<ref name=Thayer>{{cite journal |last=Thayer |first=James Steel |year=1991 |title=A Dissenting View of Creole Culture in Sierra Leone |journal=Cahiers d'Études Africaines |volume=31 |issue=121 |pages=215–230 |doi=10.3406/cea.1991.2116 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1991_num_31_121_2116 |archive-date=10 August 2021 |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810180838/https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1991_num_31_121_2116 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Browne-Davies>{{cite journal |last=Browne-Davies |first=Nigel |date=2014 |title=A Precis of Sources relating to genealogical research on the Sierra Leone Krio people |journal=Journal of Sierra Leone Studies |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=https://www.academia.edu/40720522 |archive-date=15 April 2022 |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415013754/https://www.academia.edu/40720522 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Walker>{{cite book |last=Walker |first=James W |year=1992 |chapter=Chapter Five: Foundation of Sierra Leone |title=The Black Loyalists: The Search for a Promised Land in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone, 1783–1870 |location=Toronto |publisher=University of Toronto Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/blackloyalistsse0000walk/page/94 94]–114 |url=https://archive.org/details/blackloyalistsse0000walk |url-access=registration |isbn=978-0-8020-7402-7}}, originally published by Longman & Dalhousie University Press (1976).</ref><ref name="Taylor">{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Bankole Kamara |title=Sierra Leone: The Land, Its People and History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I__jAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 |date=February 2014 |publisher=New Africa Press |isbn=9789987160389 |page=68 }}</ref> The Cotton Tree represents the christening of Freetown in March 1792. In downtown Freetown is the [[Connaught Hospital]], the first hospital constructed in West Africa that incorporated Western medical practices.

Freetown has a long-held tradition of organized cultural events taking place on specific dates to coincide with specific holidays or seasons within the calendar year. One such event is the Eastern Paddle Hunting Society's annual exhibition of a highly sophisticated masquerade, consisting of a costume built, in a fashionable sense, of various materials available: leather, sequins, sea shells, traditional cloths, etc. The masquerade, known as "Paddle", strategically takes to the streets of the eastern and central parts of the city, followed by members of the Eastern Paddle Hunting Society, traditional musical bands and a crowd of supporters. For years this event coincided with the Muslim holiday of [[Eid al-Adha]] until recently, as critics said such an event should not be held on the same day as Muslims celebrate Eid, as Islam is against the practices of secret societies and masquerades.

The "Tangays" Festival is usually held in November, with a traditional theme that involves virtually every aspect of Sierra Leonean culture. It takes place at the National Stadium. Towards the end of the festival, a couple of musical concerts are usually held in the main bowl of the stadium, with performances from local and international musical artists (especially contemporary artists from Nigeria and other African countries or the African diaspora).

Freetown has its own tradition of Christmas street parades, organised in neighbourhoods across the city. The month-long celebration gathers residents in the streets with a variety of [[Sierra Leonean cuisine|food]] and [[Music of Sierra Leone|traditional music]].

The Lantan (Lantern) Festival takes place on the last day of Ramadan each year. After a long month of fasting, participants spend the day at home eating, praying, and later head out to clubs to celebrate. That night, communities gather to showcase elaborate lantans. A designated area in the capital, Freetown, serves as the judging point, where the judges (an organization known as the YMMA) evaluate the lantans at two key locations. Each lantan is mounted on a wheeled iron chassis and hauled through the city by lantan clubs, often moving to the beat of classic Sierra Leonean tunes and instrumentals played by club members. The lantans are large and intricate, sometimes built in the form of animals, humans, mythical beings, and warships, stretching twenty feet long and up to ten feet high, providing a platform for social commentary by incorporating cultural themes and representing political themes relevant to Freetown’s history with colonialism. <ref>Basu, Paul, and Johanna Zetterstrom-Sharp. "Complicating Culture for Development: Negotiating ‘Dysfunctional Heritage'in Sierra Leone." ''Museums, heritage and international development''. Routledge, 2014. 56-82.</ref>

As the lantans move through the city, they are lit from within electric bulbs powered by generators, creating a glowing spectacle. Onlookers would fill the city, leaving no bar, allet, or street corner empty. Club members, dressed in matching aswebi (family attire), dancing and singing along to the music filling the streets. Judges assess by the coordination of the group and the creativity of the aswebi, but mainly the lantan’s design.<ref>Oram, Jennifer Lesley. ''Freetown'lantans': tradition, art and performance in Sierra Leone, 1895-1997''. Diss. University of London 2007., 2007.</ref>

==Tourism==
Freetown's tourism sector is an integral part of the city. Although the sector was seriously affected during the [[Sierra Leone Civil War|Civil War]], there has been a steady improvement in recent years. The city has a lot to offer to tourists.<ref>Sylvester Gasopan Goba (August 2014) [https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf Sierra Leone Tourism: sector overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118001455/https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf |date=18 November 2021 }}. [[International Growth Centre]]. [https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf Archived] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118001455/https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf |date=18 November 2021 }}. Retrieved 18 November 2021.</ref> There is a vast expanse of white sand beaches stretching along the Freetown Peninsula. The Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches all the way from Cape Sierra Leone down to Lumley. There are also other popular beaches like the world renowned River Number 2 Beach, Laka Beach, Tokeh Beach, Bureh Beach, and Mama Beach. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which is located within the peninsula's vast rainforest reserve, just a few miles from the centre of Freetown, has a collection of rare and endangered chimpanzees. Other popular destinations for tourists include the Freetown Cotton Tree, located in Central Freetown, a significant national monument and integral to the founding of the city; Bunce Island, which is a boat ride from the city, is home to the ruins of the slave fortress that was being used during the Transatlantic slave trade; the Sierra Leone Museum, which has a collection of both precolonial as well as colonial artifacts and other items of historical significance; the National Railway Museum; and a journey around the city's coastline with the popular Seacoach Express.

The Aberdeen-Lumley area is a favourite destination for those venturing into the city's nightlife. There are nightclubs, restaurants and hotels located close by the beach along the road linking Aberdeen and Lumley.

== Architecture ==

Nearby is the [[King's Yard]] Gate built in stone with a statement inscribed which reads "any slave who passes through this gate is declared a free man", and it was this gate through which liberated Africans passed. Down by the Naval Wharf are slave steps carved out of stone. Before Freetown was established, this was where the Portuguese slave traders transported Africans as slaves to ships.

Freetown is home to [[Fourah Bay College]], the oldest university in West Africa, founded in 1827. The university played a key role in Sierra Leone's colonial history. The college's first student, [[Samuel Ajayi Crowther]], went on to be named as the first indigenous Bishop of West Africa. National Railway Museum has a coach car built for the state visit of [[Elizabeth II]] in 1961. The Big Market on Wallace Johnson Street is the showcase for local artisans' work.

The Freetown peninsula is ringed by long stretches of white sand. Lumley Beach, on the western side of the peninsula, is a popular location for local parties and festivals.

== Places of worship ==
Among the [[places of worship]], Christian churches predominate and the remaining religious institutions are predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Leone Sierra-Leone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913065402/https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Leone |date=13 September 2020 }}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on 7 July 2019</ref> Among the [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone]] ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Assemblies of God]], and [[St. George's Cathedral, Freetown|St. George's Cathedral (Anglican)]] which opened in 1828.

== Economy ==
[[File:Freetown street (13992704238).jpg|thumb|A local market street in Central Freetown]]

Freetown is the economic and financial centre of Sierra Leone. The country's state television and radio station, the [[Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation]], is primarily based in Freetown. The other national broadcasters, such as AYV (African Young Voices) and [[Capital Radio Sierra Leone|Capital Radio]], are also based in Freetown. Many of the national headquarters of the country's largest corporations, as well as the majority of international companies, are located in Freetown - predominately in Central Freetown.

The city's economy revolves largely around its [[natural harbour]], which is the largest natural harbour on the African continent. [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]] is capable of receiving oceangoing vessels and handles Sierra Leone's main exports.

Industries include food and beverage processing, fish packing, rice milling, petroleum refining, diamond cutting, and the manufacture of cigarettes, paint, textile, and [[Sierra Leone Brewery Limited|beer]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Kenneth |last2=Maconachie |first2=Roy |last3=Binns |first3=Tony |last4=Tengbe |first4=Paul |last5=Bangura |first5=Kabba |date=2013 |title=Meeting the urban challenge? Urban agriculture and food security in post-conflict Freetown, Sierra Leone |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S014362281200063X |journal=Applied Geography |language=en |volume=36 |pages=31–39 |doi=10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.007 |bibcode=2013AppGe..36...31L |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone |last2=Kamara |first2=Js |last3=Leigh |first3=Au |last4=Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, Freetown, Sierra Leone |last5=Cooke |first5=Ra |last6=University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA. |date=7 December 2015 |title=A national survey of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality in Sierra Leone II: Evaluation of physical grain quality. |url=https://www.ajfand.net/Volume15/No5/Kamara15490.pdf |journal=African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development |volume=15 |issue=72 |pages=10559–10577 |doi=10.18697/ajfand.72.15490 |s2cid=56077078 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |access-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205122755/https://www.ajfand.net/Volume15/No5/Kamara15490.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawe |first=Benjamin Elisha |date=16 April 2019 |title=What Are The Biggest Industries In Sierra Leone? |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-sierra-leone.html |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US |archive-date=19 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319151703/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-sierra-leone.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sierra Leone: Economy |url=https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/sierra-leone/economy |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=globaledge.msu.edu |language=en-us }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sierra Leone |date=10 March 2023 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sierra-leone/#economy |work=The World Factbook |access-date=19 March 2023 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en |archive-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403133725/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sierra-leone/#economy |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city is served by the [[Freetown International Airport]], located in [[Lungi, Sierra Leone|Lungi]], across the river estuary from Freetown.

In almost every neighborhood of Freetown there are a number of high streets with shops of various kinds of commercial products and services. Shop traders are diverse, including locals and foreign shop owners. However, a majority of locals shop at specific and popular areas of the city, such as Lumley Junction, Eastern Police Junction, PZ area, Shell Junction, etc.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Some other notable places in Freetown" heights="70px" perrow="4">
File:Freetown Court 1984.jpg|Law Courts Building, Siaka Stevens Street
File:Lumley Beach Freetown.JPG|Lumley Beach
File:Magazine Wharf - home to some of Freetown's hardest-hit Ebola survivors (22772017351).jpg|Freetown's highly congested Magazine Wharf neighbourhood – which was hit hard during the 2014 Ebola crisis
File:Lumley.jpg|Lumley area
File:Atlantic estate.jpg|Aberdeen
File:Central Freetown at night, Sierra Leone. January1 2014.jpg|Night view of Central Freetown
</gallery>

== Education ==
{{See also|Education in Sierra Leone}}

Freetown (as the rest of Sierra Leone) has an education system with six years of primary school (Classes 1 to 6), and six years of secondary school (Forms 1 to 6). Secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Forms 1 to 3) and Senior secondary school (Forms 4 to 6). This system is known as the 6-3-3-4 education system, which means: 6 years of Primary, 3 years of Junior Secondary, 3 years of Senior Secondary, and 4 years of university.

Primary school pupils are usually aged 6 to 12, and secondary schools are usually aged 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools. Freetown is home to one of the country's two main universities, the [[Fourah Bay College]], the oldest university in West Africa, founded in 1827.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.jpg|thumb|300px|A normal day Freetown street with "Keke", regular taxis and private vehicles on the road]]

=== Air transportation ===

[[Freetown International Airport]] is the international airport which serves Freetown and the rest of the country. It is located in the town of [[Lungi, Sierra Leone|Lungi]], about 17 km north-east of Freetown across the sea. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to and from Sierra Leone. The airport is operated by Sierra Leone Airports Authority. There is a frequent commercial fast boat, [[buses|bus]], and [[ferry]] service to Freetown and other parts of the country. [[Hastings Airport (Sierra Leone)|Hastings Airport]] provides secondary service, but can only handle small aircraft because of its short runway. It is located about 14 km south-east of downtown Freetown (nearly 22 km by road).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://maps.google.com/?ll=8.394156,-13.12892&spn=0.020166,0.017166&t=h&z=16 |title=Google Maps |website=Google Maps |access-date=21 August 2017 }}</ref>

==== Transfers to Freetown ====
Passengers have the choice of [[hovercraft]], ferry, road (5 hours), [[speedboat]], water taxi, local banana boats and helicopter to cross the river to Freetown. Ferry is the cheapest option. Hovercraft and ferry operations have at times been suspended due to passenger overloads and safety issues. Several piers are unusable at low-tide. During these times, there is no dry path from land to the speedboats or water taxi. Operators offer from the beachhead to hoist passengers and their luggage above water-level while themselves wade into the sea to help patrons and their belongings board.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/neumeyer/6891131191/in/photolist-2ohc4gH-2oYF8HX-2piHRkj-2j7hhsF-riqUQu-buWR5z-buWRpi-2kpn9Wd-2pivBkg-buWRdK-2oWz5ct-2pbHeYn-buWRQP-buWRwp-2pepibU-buWRFR-2poXgkB-e8rsvC-buWQV8-buWEvi-buWCtt-2pKFqdv-buWCgk-buWEfZ-e8kN7T-buWF3K-buWC82-buWBWe-buWCR6-buWBLK-buWEH8-buWDUn-ttFomX-2j7cS7q-safcxq-rswmJ8 |title=Scene of speedboat pier at lowtide |date=27 December 2011 |access-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref>

=== Access by sea ===
Sierra Leone has the largest natural [[harbour]] on the African continent. Ships from all over the globe berth at Freetown's [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]]. Passenger, cargo, and private craft also utilize Government Wharf nearer to central Freetown. Recent investment has seen the introduction of high-tech [[cargo scanning]] facilities.

=== Access by land ===

====Road====
Sierra Leone's infrastructure is limited, and its highways and roads reflect this. The roads and highways of the country are administered by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) which has often been crippled by corruption. Highway 1 enters the city from the town of Waterloo, several kilometers to the south. Despite the SLRA's limited capabilities, main feeder/trunk roads have been reconstructed to a high standard.

====Railway====
Following a recommendation from the [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]], the [[Sierra Leone Government Railway]] which linked Freetown to the rest of the country was permanently closed in 1974. The iron rails were looted in the following years.

== Sports ==
[[File:Sierra Leone National Stadium.jpg|thumb|The National Stadium]]
Like the rest of Sierra Leone, [[association football|football]] is the most popular sport in Freetown. The Sierra Leone national football team, popularly known as the [[Leone Stars]] plays all their home games at Freetown's [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|National Stadium]], the largest stadium in Sierra Leone.

Eight of the fifteen clubs in the [[Sierra Leone National Premier League]] are from Freetown, including two of Sierra Leone's biggest and most successful football clubs, [[East End Lions]] and [[Mighty Blackpool]]. A match between these two teams is the biggest domestic-football clash in Sierra Leone. A notable Sierra Leonian footballer is [[Kei Kamara]], who plays for [[Los Angeles FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]].

== Twin towns/sister cities ==
Freetown is officially [[List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa|twinned]] with five cities:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:white; width:60%;"
|- style="color:black;"
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width: 40%;" | City
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:40%;" | Province / Region / State
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:15%;" | Country
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:10%;" | Year
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:10%;" | Ref
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Flag of Charleston, South Carolina.svg|30px]] '''[[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[South Carolina]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 2019
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: Freetown & Charleston Sign Sister City Partnership Agreement |url=https://fcc.gov.sl/freetowncharlestonsignsistercitypartnershipagreement/ |website=fcc.gov.sl |publisher=Freetown City Council |date=15 July 2019 |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926135448/https://fcc.gov.sl/freetowncharlestonsignsistercitypartnershipagreement/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | '''[[Hefei]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Anhui]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|CHN}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 1984
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambassador from China to Sierra Leone Pays the Mayor of Freetown a Courtesy Call |url=https://fcc.gov.sl/ambassador-from-china-to-sierra-leone-pays-the-mayor-of-freetown-a-courtesy-call/ |website=fcc.gov.sl |publisher=Freetown City Council |date=22 August 2019 |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926131107/https://fcc.gov.sl/ambassador-from-china-to-sierra-leone-pays-the-mayor-of-freetown-a-courtesy-call/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Flag of Kansas City, Missouri.svg|30px]] '''[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Missouri]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 1974
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://www.kcsistercities.org/ |website=kcsistercities.org |publisher=Kansas City Sister Cities Association |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023053702/https://www.kcsistercities.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Coat of Arms of Kingston upon Hull.svg|20px]] '''[[Kingston upon Hull]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[England]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 1979
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Hull City Pays Courtesy Call on President Julius Maada Bio at State Lodge in Freetown |url=https://statehouse.gov.sl/mayor-of-hull-city-pays-courtesy-call-on-president-julius-maada-bio-at-state-lodge-in-freetown/ |website=statehouse.gov.sl |publisher=The Republic of Sierra Leone State House |date=11 June 2019 |access-date=23 October 2020 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828093439/https://statehouse.gov.sl/mayor-of-hull-city-pays-courtesy-call-on-president-julius-maada-bio-at-state-lodge-in-freetown/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" |'''[[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Connecticut]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=New Haven Sister Cities |url=https://www.newhavenct.gov/arts/neighborhood_n_cultural_development/sister_cities.htm |website=newhavenct.gov |publisher=City of New Haven |access-date=16 May 2021 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516191920/https://www.newhavenct.gov/arts/neighborhood_n_cultural_development/sister_cities.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sierra Leone}}
* [[List of people from Freetown]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Freetown#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Freetown}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rodney |first1=Walter |title=A history of the Upper Guinea Coast 1545 to 1800 |date=1970 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Freetown}}
* {{wikivoyage inline|Freetown}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkTeAaow_s 220 Years of Freetown] on [[YouTube]]

{{List of African capitals|state=expanded}}

{{Geographic location
|title = '''Freetown and neighbouring cities, towns and places'''
|North = Atlantic ocean, Lungi (airport), Masoila
|Northwest = Atlantic ocean, [[Conakry]]
|Northeast = Sierra Leone River (Estuary), Tagrin, Bunce Island, Pepel
|West = Atlantic ocean
|East = Jui, Hastings, Waterloo
|Southwest = Banana Island, Atlantic ocean
|Centre = '''FREETOWN'''
|South = Bureh Town/Bureh Beach, Kent, York, John Obey, Tokeh, Tombo
|Southeast = Tumbu, Yawri Bay
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Freetown| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1792]]
[[Category:Populated places in Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Africa]]
[[Category:Western Area]]
[[Category:1790s establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Repatriated Africans]]
[[Category:Repatriated slaves]]
[[Category:People of Liberated African descent]]
[[Category:Populated places established by Sierra Leone Creoles]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Freetown]]

Nina de Vries

2025-10-27T00:34:18Z

2600:8800:49E:3B00:E951:E191:5C52:B4D1: /* Education and early work */

{{short description|Dutch sexual assistant (born 1961)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nina de Vries
| image = Nina de Vries (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|01|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = IJmuiden, Netherlands
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| nationality = Dutch
| other_names =
| occupation =
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}

'''Nina de Vries''' (born 21 January 1961 in [[IJmuiden]], the [[Netherlands]]) is a Dutch [[sexual assistant]] who has lived and worked in Germany since 1990. She distinguishes between ''Sexual Assistance'' and ''Surrogate Partnership'', terms which are commonly used interchangeably. Over the years her focus has shifted to the work with severely disabled people as well as the education and training of sexual assistants. In addition, she is responsible for [[Elderly Care|elderly care]] facilities and facilities in which people with different kinds of impairments have found a new home.

==Education and early work==
Nina de Vries is a child of politically engaged parents. Already at an early age she was familiar with the concept of [[Amnesty International]] and [[Protests against the Vietnam War]]. Her father was a teacher, her mother a housewife. Her mother took her own life when de Vries was 16 years old –  a "moment that markedly shaped the path of her life."<ref name="spiegel_2010" /> When she was 17 years old and feeling vulnerable after her mother's death, she saw a report on Dutch television about so-called "sex helpers". Deeply touched, it reminded her of [[Clown Care|''clown doctors'']] who try to bring some joy to dying children. She did not know that this encounter with people who face some human beings' problems would become an impetus for her, and that she would become a fighter for the sexual [[self-determination]] of those who can not help themselves.<ref name="freude" />

Nina de Vries attended primary school in [[Amersfoort]]. She graduated from high school in [[Arnhem|Arnheim]] in 1979 and then studied social work in [[Leeuwarden]]. For several years she lived and worked in a Buddhist-oriented community, but later distanced herself from this spirituality. However, Buddhist elements continue to flow into her work. While still in the Netherlands, she trained in [[bodywork (alternative medicine)|bodywork]] and sexual education.<ref name="berliner_zeitung_2015" />

In 1990 Nina de Vries moved to Berlin and later to [[Potsdam]] where she has been living and working, unless her expertise is in demand elsewhere. Initially she was active artistically, engaging in [[graphic arts]] and [[sculpture]], among other areas. In 1992 she began working as an educator in a rehabilitation center where she worked for a year. This brought her into contact with [[Disability|disabled]] people for the first time.<ref name="vita" /> In January 2017 she gave an interview about her work in English.<ref name="english_interview_2017" />

==Career==
Nina de Vries is considered a "pioneer of [[sexual assistance]]".<ref name="spiegel_2010" /> At the end of the 1990s she began her work as a sexual assistant and has continued to gain expertise since then. She sees her most important teachers as those who use her services.

{{Blockquote|text=When I meet my clients, I want to get to know them. I do not want to perceive them as victims and pity them, but to meet them at a level of equals. […] Many efforts that are made with the intent to contribute to issues of inclusion arise partly from pity and guilt. You have to drive around the area in a wheelchair for a day, then you will realize where we really stand socially. |author=Nina de Vries |source=''[[Berliner Zeitung]]''<ref name="berliner_zeitung_2015" />}}

Currently de Vries' clients are primarily people with multiple disabilities, with [[autism]] as well as persons who have significant cognitive or [[dementia]] disorders.<ref name="spiegel_2010_2" /> In addition, de Vries is engaged in training others to achieve quality standards. She believes that flexibility, sensitivity, respect and truthfulness are indispensable values in her work.<ref name="spiegel_2010" /> Furthermore, on behalf of the ''Center for Disability and Sexuality'' (German: ''Fachstelle für Behinderung und Sexualität, FABS)'' in [[Basel]], she trained ten sex therapists of both genders for six months.<ref name="regierung_unterfranken" /> She also offers [[coaching]] to organizations dedicated to the sexual self-determination of people.<ref name="nessita" />

De Vries is regularly asked by various institutions to give lectures or workshops on the topics of ''Sexuality and Disability'' or ''Sexuality and Aging''. Research associations are involved, as are facilities for disabled people,<ref name="himrich" /> and nursing homes which are beginning to approach this largely taboo subject.<ref name="vorträge" /> Requests for her expertise come mostly from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. At the 4th Congress for the ''Care of the Elderly'' in 2010, she gave an interview which is available on YouTube.<ref name="youtube_2010" />

When De Vries began to work in the field of ''Sexual Assistance and Education'' she was "surprised" by the response in Germany as she knew that "in the Netherlands there is more open-mindedness. 'Sex Helpers' have been active there since the seventies. Here it is taboo until today." In Germany, as opposed to the Netherlands, "very few questions are being asked".<ref name="berliner_zeitung_2015" /> This is beginning to change. The [[Federal Centre for Health Education]] (BZgA) is funding a research project led by Sven Jennessen of the [[University of Koblenz-Landau]] in cooperation with the ''Catholic University of North Rhine-Westphalia'' (German: ''Katholische Hochschule Nordrhein-Westphalen'') and the ''Protestant University of Applied Sciencices'' (German: ''Evangelische Hochschule Bochum'') in [[Bochum]] to examine the question "how disabled people in facilities can express their sexual self-determination".<ref name="apotheken_umschau_2015" />

==Sexual assistance==
The attempt to provide [[sexual assistance|assistance]] to people who need specific help with their sexuality due to various impairments has produced a new occupational profile that de Vries calls ''Sexual Accompaniment'' or ''Sexual Assistance''. At the ''Integra Conference for Care, Therapy and Rehabilitation''<ref name="integra" /> in [[Wels]], [[Austria]], where she presented her training concept, she gave a definition for this profession:

{{Blockquote|text=Sexual companions are women and men who – based on their own healthy<ref name="transparent" /> and conscious motivation – help people with physical, emotional or mental impairments/disabilities experience their sexuality and make this their profession. They enable people who need a gentle, creative approach in the field of sexuality due to their situation (e.g. illness, accident, life history), giving them an intimate, sensual and erotic experience as well as a positive body feeling. […] They regard people with disabilities as equals. |author=Nina de Vries |source=lecture 2006<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160913235235/http://www.integra.at/files/Sexualbegleitung.pdf Lecture at Integra – ''Fachmesse für Pflege, Therapie und Rehabilitation'' in Wels, Österreich] by Nina de Vries, September 2006, retrieved 2016-09-06 (PDF; 128 kB).</ref> }}

Sexual assistance is an "opportunity to experience".<ref name="berliner_zeitung_2015" /> With these simple words de Vries describes her profession, stating that with such assistance a paid sexual service is offered, similar to prostitution. She believes, however, that the attitude with which this service is provided is different. It is, if possible, an assist for self-help. In contrast to prostitution, intensive personal relationships are necessary not only with the clientele, but also with the persons who care for them. De Vries is convinced that these relationships create special preconditions for the profession and should be taken into account in the training. Such training took place, for the first time, when de Vries trained sex assistants at the ''Institute for Self-Determination of the Disabled '' (German: ''Institut zur Selbst-Bestimmung Behinderter (ISBB)'') in 2002.<ref name="isbb" />

{{Blockquote|text=Some of her colleagues call themselves 'touchers', which sounds more poetic, less like prostitution. Nina de Vries has no shyness at this point. 'What I do is a sexual service as well as prostitution, although there are, of course, differences. I am nothing better', she says. The deep conviction of not being better is something like the basic pillar of her work, even in dealing with her clients. |author=Jörg Böckem |source=[[Spiegel Online]]<ref name="spiegel_2010" /> }}

De Vries sees the difference between ''Sexual Assistance'' and ''Surrogate Partnership'' at different levels. On one hand, she perceives a sexual assistant not as a ''substitute partner'' for the client, but rather someone offering a very personal, individually designed relationship. It is different from a love affair. Nina de Vries calls this an "encounter"<ref name="taz_2009" /> – with people "who are not scheming because they are not able to be scheming."<ref name="morgenpost_2011" /> On the other hand, sexual assistance does not pursue any therapeutic goals, but aims to help people who can not express themselves without help make decisions about sexual self-determination.

The self-determination of her clientele is in the foreground. "If someone just wants to have my hand on his stomach for an hour, that's okay. For an autistic person to allow that can be a high accomplishment."<ref name="taz_2009" />

== Publications ==
* {{cite book |last1=de Vries |first1=Nina |year=2009 |title=Lust leben statt Leiden schaffen – Sexualassistenz für Menschen mit einer Beeinträchtigung |url=http://www.beb-orientierung.de/index.php?id=118 |series=Orientierung |language=de |volume=2 |edition="stattlich, prächtig, stark bewegt" – Voller Stolz und Leidenschaft |publisher=Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfe |access-date=2016-11-10}}
* Assistance: {{cite book
|last1=Ewering
|first1=Ingrid
|last2=Gartinger
|first2=Silvia
|last3=Hennig
|first3=Anke
|last4=Hinderberger
|first4=Jörg
|last5=Jocham
|first5=Ulrike
|last6=Rott-König
|first6=Corina
|last7=Schmidt
|first7=Christoph
|year=2011
|editor1-last=Nicklas-Faust
|editor1-first=Jeanne
|editor2-last=Scharringhausen
|editor2-first=Ruth
|title=Heilerziehungspflege in besonderen Lebenslagen gestalten
|trans-title=Training in special living conditions
|url=http://www.cornelsen.de/lehrkraefte/reihe/r-4756/ra/titel/9783064503045
|series=Heilerziehungspflege
|language=de
|volume=2
|location=Berlin
|publisher=Cornelsen
|isbn=978-3-06-450304-5}}

== See also ==
* [[Sexuality and disability]]

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="apotheken_umschau_2015">{{citation|surname1=Christian Steinmüller|periodical=Apotheken Umschau|title=Sex mit Behinderung|date=2015-07-27|language=de|url=http://www.apotheken-umschau.de/Sexualitaet/Sex-mit-Behinderung-495655.html|access-date=2016-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110153113/http://www.apotheken-umschau.de/Sexualitaet/Sex-mit-Behinderung-495655.html|archive-date=2016-11-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="berliner_zeitung_2015">
{{citation|surname1=David Sarkar|periodical=Berliner Zeitung|title=Interview mit Sexualpädagogin Nina de Vries. Wie' Sex Helper' behinderten Menschen Zärtlichkeit schenken|date=2015-07-10|language=de|url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/22845902|access-date=2016-11-08}}
</ref>

<ref name="english_interview_2017">
{{cite web | url =http://m.dw.com/en/spectrum-the-future-of-driving/av-37127227 | title =Spectrum: The future of driving is here, and it's not going to need drivers – Sexual assistance to the physically and mentally disabled – and the shifting fight on the ground in Tanzania against malaria | last =Borrud | first =Gabriel | date =2017-01-13 | publisher =Deutsche Welle | access-date =2017-02-15}} (de Vries: 9:30 to 19:18, German)
</ref>

<ref name="freude">
{{cite news|title=Frau de Vries erklärt, wie Selbstbefriedigung geht|periodical=Welt N24|url=https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article111784864/Frau-de-Vries-erklaert-wie-Selbstbefriedigung-geht.html|access-date=2016-11-10|last=Claudia Becker|date=2012-12-03|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="himrich">
{{citation|surname1=Annegret Himrich|periodical=Gesundheit und Gesellschaft|title=Wege aus emotionaler Not|issue=2|page=13|date=2016|language=de|url=http://ninadevries.com/onewebmedia/Sexualassistenz_neu.pdf|access-date=2016-11-10|quote=Die meisten Pflegekräfte wurden in ihrer Ausbildung nicht ausreichend auf das Thema vorbereitet. Um angemessen reagieren zu können, brauchen sie jedoch klare Richtlinien und Fortbildungen. Am Anfang von Nina de Vries' Arbeit steht deshalb oft ein Workshop für die Beschäftigten. So können sie den Beruf der Sexualassistentin kennenlernen, Fragen stellen, Zweifel, Ängste und Vorurteile aussprechen. Denn noch immer ist Sexualität bei behinderten oder demenzkranken Menschen ein Tabu. Ganz anders im Nachbarland Dänemark. Dort müssen Betreuer darauf achten, dass die ihnen anvertrauten Menschen ihre Sexualität selbstbestimmt leben können, zum Beispiel durch Sexualassistenz.}}, Format: PDF, KBytes: 100
</ref>

<ref name="integra">
{{cite web|title=Integra Messe|url=http://www.integra.at/messe/|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516025423/http://www.integra.at/messe/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-05-16|access-date=2016-09-06|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="isbb">
{{cite web|title=ISBB Trebel|url=http://www.isbbtrebel.de/|access-date=2016-11-10|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="morgenpost_2011">
{{cite web|title=Zärtlichkeit auf Bestellung|periodical=Berliner Morgenpost|url=http://www.morgenpost.de/familie/article105301579/Zaertlichkeit-auf-Bestellung.html|access-date=2016-11-10|last=Beatrix Fricke|date=2011-10-01|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="nessita">For instance
{{cite web|title=Nessita|url=http://www.nessita.de/coaching/nina-de-vries/|access-date=2016-11-10|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220053508/http://www.nessita.de/coaching/nina-de-vries/|archive-date=2016-12-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="regierung_unterfranken">
{{cite web|title=Nina de Vries|publisher=Regierung von Unterfranken|url=http://www.regierung.unterfranken.bayern.de/assets/2/3/nina_de_vries_neu.pdf|format=PDF; 67 kB|access-date=2016-11-09|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="spiegel_2010">
{{citation|surname1=Jörg Böckem|periodical=Spiegel Online|title=Sex-Dienste im Pflegeheim. Die Pionierin|date=2010-02-23|language=de|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegelwissen/a-680226.html|access-date=2016-11-09}}
</ref>

<ref name="spiegel_2010_2">
{{citation|surname1=Jörg Böckem|periodical=Spiegel Online|title=Sex-Dienste im Pflegeheim. Die Pionierin|date=2010-02-23|language=de|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegelwissen/a-680226.html|access-date=2016-11-09|quote=Ihre Klienten sind Menschen mit schweren physischen und psychischen Beeinträchtigungen, Schwerst- und Mehrfachbehinderte, in aller Regel sind es Männer.}}
</ref>

<ref name="taz_2009">
{{citation|surname1=Ariane Lemme|periodical=Taz|title="Die sind ja eigentlich so wie ich"|date=2009-12-03|language=de|url=http://www.taz.de/!5151535/|access-date=2016-11-10}}
</ref>

<ref name="transparent">
The word "healthy" she corrected in 2016 in "transparent":<br />
{{cite web|title=Lust statt Frust ...?!|periodical=Fachtagung Behindertenhilfe 2016 in Maria Bildhausen. 'Heimlichkeiten' – gegen den Strich, Quer Durchs Heim …|publisher=Regierung von Unterfranken|url=http://www.regierung.unterfranken.bayern.de/assets/2/3/referat_nina_de_vries_lust_statt_frust.pdf|format=PDF; 944 kB|access-date=2016-12-05|last=Nina de Vries|date=2016|language=de|pages=75}}
</ref>

<ref name="vita">{{cite web|title=Person und beruflicher Werdegang|url=http://ninadevries.com/person-berufliche-werdegang/index.html|access-date=2016-09-06|last=Nina de Vries|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913235225/http://ninadevries.com/person-berufliche-werdegang/index.html|archive-date=2016-09-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="vorträge">
{{cite web|title=Fachtagung Behindertenhilfe 2016 in Maria Bildhausen. "Heimlichkeiten" – gegen den Strich, quer durchs Heim …|url=http://www.regierung.unterfranken.bayern.de/aufgaben/2/3/02982/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913235227/http://www.regierung.unterfranken.bayern.de/aufgaben/2/3/02982/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-09-13|access-date=2016-09-06|last=Regierung von Unterfranken|language=de}}
</ref>

<ref name="youtube_2010">
{{YouTube|id=2q_6ePGGwH0|title=Interview mit der Sexualassistentin Nina de Vries – Sozialhilfekongress 2010}}
</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
* [http://ninadevries.com/ Website of Nina de Vries] (German)
* {{cite web | url =https://cba.fro.at/ondemand?series_id=263228 | title =Interview with sexual assistant Nina de Vries | last =Radio FRO | date =2014-01-13 | website =Liebe, Sex und Zärtlichkeit (German) | publisher =Cultural broadcasting archive | access-date =2016-11-10}} (German – 45:17)
* {{YouTube|id=2q_6ePGGwH0|title=Interview with sexual assistant Nina de Vries}} (2010 – 5:07)

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vries, Nina de}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Potsdam]]
[[Category:Disability and sexuality]]
[[Category:Dutch sex workers]]
[[Category:Erotic massage]]

Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi

2025-10-22T08:29:03Z

2600:8800:49E:3B00:E951:E191:5C52:B4D1:

{{short description|Boxing match}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Boxingmatch
| fight date = March 18, 1983
| Fight Name = The Brawl for it All
| location = [[Boardwalk Hall|Atlantic City Convention Hall]] in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]
| image = [[File:Spinks vs. Braxton.jpg|230px]]
| fighter1 = [[Michael Spinks]]
| nickname1 = "Jinx"
| hometown1 = [[St. Louis, Missouri]]
| record1 = 22–0
| height1 = 6 ft 2+1/2 in
| weight1 = 173 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] light heavyweight champion
| fighter2 = [[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]]
| nickname2 = "The Camden Buzzsaw"
| record2 = 19–1–1
| hometown2 = [[Lindenwold, New Jersey]]
| height2 = 5 ft 7 in
| weight2 = 174 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] and [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] light heavyweight champion
| titles = [[World Boxing Association|WBA]], [[World Boxing Council|WBC]], [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'']] and [[Lineal championship|lineal]] light heavyweight titles
| result = Spinks defeated Muhammad Qawi via Unanimous decision
}}

'''[[Michael Spinks]] vs. [[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]]''', billed as "'''The Brawl for it All'''", was a professional boxing match contested on March 18, 1983 for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship.

==Background==
"The Brawl for it All" was a long-awaited match. Qawi had defeated [[Matthew Saad Muhammad]] for the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] world title, and Spinks had defeated [[Eddie Mustafa Muhammad]] for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] world title. Both Qawi and Spinks had defeated some top name challengers during the course of their championship runs; boxing fans and experts alike clamoured for the fight to take place.

The fight had some dramatic backgrounds: two months before, Spinks' longtime girlfriend, who was the mother of his only daughter, had died after a car accident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php?title=Fight:1048 |title = Michael Spinks vs. Dwight Muhammad Qawi - BoxRec}}</ref> On fight night, Spinks' two-year-old daughter, unaware that her mother had died, walked into Spinks' locker room and asked when would her mother show up to see the fight. Spinks cried, but he was able to keep his composure.

Qawi had been better known to most fans as '''Dwight Braxton'''. He still had not talked much in public about his name change and his [[Muslim]] faith. About seven days before the fight, he revealed that his doctors had recommended him not to fight, as he had been diagnosed with [[pneumonia]]. This diagnosis put the fight in jeopardy, but he decided to go on with the fight.

The bout was carried live on [[HBO Boxing]]. The bout was fought at [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], near Qawi's hometown of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. Some fans and critics would later say that the fight did not live up to its name, because they were expecting an action packed fight.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

==The fight==
Spinks surprised many observers by taking a technical stance from the beginning, and Qawi, in his typical style, charged forward, chasing Spinks. Rounds one to six were, in the eyes of many, including the judges, dominated by Spinks . By the middle rounds, however, Qawi began to untrack, and, in round eight, Spinks suffered two falls: the first one was ruled a slip, but the second one was a controversial knockdown. As Spinks stepped on one of Qawi's feet, Qawi landed a blow to Spinks' body. Left without any choice (because Qawi had landed a punch the moment before Spinks fell), the referee, [[Larry Hazzard]], issued an eight-second count after Spinks rose, making it officially Spinks' first career fall. The knockdown was controversial, because many continue to argue that, had Spinks not stepped on Qawi's foot, Qawi would have never been credited with knocking Spinks down.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

Qawi, perhaps because of his pneumonia, tired somewhat and backtracked during rounds eleven to thirteen, rounds which would later become key rounds in the fight.

Suspecting that he was behind on points, Qawi became more aggressive in rounds fourteen and fifteen. He staggered Spinks with two rights towards the end of round fourteen, but could not finish up his foe as the bell rang soon afterwards. Qawi came swinging from every angle at the start of the last round, probably desperate to score a [[knockout]]. But Spinks made him miss frequently, bobbing his head and trying to keep his distance from Qawi. (In 2006, Qawi bitterly told ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' that Spinks "ran like a thief"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108638/1/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103163327/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108638/1/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |title=SI.com |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-27}}</ref> during the fight.)

==Decision==
After the fight ended, the scorecards were read: judge [[Tony Castellano]] had scored the fight 144–140, judge [[Tony Perez (boxing referee)|Tony Perez]] had it at 144–141, and judge [[Frank Cappuccino]] had it also at 144–141, all in favor of Spinks.

The closeness of the decision made fans write to magazines and newspapers, asking for a rematch. The rematch came very close to happening; it was set for September 27 of 1984, but it was cancelled after Qawi was injured during [[Boxing training|training]], three weeks before the fight.

==Aftermath==
Spinks went on to become the first world light heavyweight champion in boxing history to go up in weight and win the world heavyweight title. Qawi, for his part, went up to the cruiserweight division, where he reigned as WBA world champion from 1985 to 1986.

Both fighters are now members of the [[International Boxing Hall of Fame]].

==Undercard==
Confirmed bouts:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxrec.com/en/event/2306|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}</ref>
*[[Johnny Davis (boxer)|Johnny Davis]] KO9 [[Jerry Martin (boxer)|Jerry Martin]]
*[[Ubaldo Sacco]] W10 Willie Rodriguez
*Elio Diaz KO5 [[Bruce Finch]]
*[[James Shuler]] KO4 Inocencio de la Rosa
*[[Jose Maria Flores Burlon]] KO3 Dornell Wigfall
*Leon Taylor W6 [[Bashiru Ali]]
*Najee Ullah W4 Ken Ringo
*Earl Grant W4 Mauro Fernandes da Cruz

==Broadcasting==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || [[HBO]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinks, Muhammad Qawi}}

[[Category:1983 in boxing]]
[[Category:1983 in sports in New Jersey]]
[[Category:March 1983 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Boxing matches at Boardwalk Hall]]
[[Category:Light heavyweight championship matches]]