Wikipedia
Makeni is the fourth largest city in Sierra Leone (after Freetown, Bo and Kenema) and the largest city and economic center of the Northern Province. Makeni is the capital and administrative center of Bombali District. The city lies approximately 137 kilometers (85 miles) east of Freetown. Makeni is a major commercial, educational, transportational and economic center. The city had a population of 126,059 in the 2015 census .
The city is home to the University of Makeni, the largest private university in Sierra Leone 1. Makeni is home to the St. Francis Secondary School, one of the most prominent secondary schools in Sierra Leone.
Makeni is one of Sierra Leone's six municipalities and is governed by a directly elected city council, headed by a mayor, in whom local executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city.
The population of Makeni is ethnically diverse, though the Temne people make up the majority of the population. The Krio language is used as the primary language of communication among the different ethnic groups in the city. The city is predominantly muslim, and with a significant and diverse christian population.
Football is by far the most popular sport in the city. The Sierra Leone professional football club the Wusum Stars, that is based in Makeni, represent the city in the Sierra Leone National Premier League.
Makeni is the hometown of Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma, as he was born and raised in the city. Like most parts of Northern Sierra Leone, Makeni is a reliable political stronghold of the ruling All People's Congress (APC) political party.