Soma, later known as Madam Yoko (ca. 1849 – 1906) was a leader of the Mende people in Sierra Leone.
King of the Senehun tribe
Soma was born around 1849 in the village of Gbo, Sierra Leone, into a rather wealthy family. At the age of 12, Soma goes to the forest to pass the initiatory test called Sande, allowing him to be initiated by his elders and to enter the feminine secret society of the Bundu. She must, in particular, be circumcised and master arts such as pottery and dance. Passing all the tests successfully, especially that of the dance, she receives the new name of Yoko and returns to the village as a woman ready to marry.
Her first marriage to a man named Gongoima did not last, and after their separation, Yoko remarried Gbenjei, chief of the Taiama tribe. Despite the fact that she cannot have children, Gbenjei makes her his favorite wife and lets her manage the household finances. But her husband dies, and Yoko marries a third time. Her third husband, Gbanya Lango, is the King of the Senehun tribe and a powerful military leader.
Queen of Senehun
In 1875, her husband was detained by the British and Madam Yoko, pleading her cause with Governor Rowe, obtained his release. Following this incident, Gbanya made her his favorite wife. Yoko is also influential within Bundu society and therefore has a certain authority. When her husband died in 1878, she became chief of Senehun and had to control the region of Kpa Mendé; in 1884, she was recognized as Queen of Senehun by her people but also by the British.
To curry favor with the English and forge alliances, Yoko leads Sande in the forest and offers young girls in marriage to the British. Rather than risk bloodshed, she prefers to cooperate and try to keep benefits for her people. This strategy does not please everyone and many criticize Yoko – now called Madam Yoko – for being too complacent with the British. When she imposes a tax to be paid to the English, sub-chiefs organize a plot against her and she must take refuge with the British Police.
In 1906, Madam Yoko died and rumors say that she committed suicide; the mystery around the reasons for this gesture will not be lifted. At the announcement of his death, despite the disagreements around his policy vis-à-vis the English, his entire people are seized with sadness.