The Bollum people are among the earliest indigenous communities of coastal north-western Sierra Leone, particularly in Port Loko and Kambia Districts along the Great and Little Scarcies Rivers. Historically, the Bullom language was widely spoken in these riverine and mangrove communities and was central to cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and environmental stewardship.

Over time, the Bollum language became severely endangered due to several interconnected factors. Long-term contact with larger and more politically dominant groups, especially the Temne, led to gradual language shift. Colonial administration, formal education, and trade favored Temne, Krio, and English, reducing the use of Bollum in public and institutional spaces. Intermarriage and migration further accelerated this decline, as younger generations adopted dominant languages for social and economic survival.

Today, the Bollum language is spoken by very few elderly speakers, with limited education background to transmit this language to their kids. Without urgent documentation, community based education, and cultural revitalization, the language risks extinction. Supporting Bollum language preservation is essential to safeguarding Sierra Leone’s indigenous heritage, oral history, and traditional ecological knowledge.