Alimamy Rassin
Encyclopedia
Alimamy Rassin was a Fula
chief
from Sierra Leone
who devoted his life to making peace among his people and fellow rulers.
of Sierra Leone
to a Fula
father from Senegal
and a Temne mother. When his father returned to Senegal
, Rassin was adopted by Alimamy Amadu, a Fula chief of Mafonda Chiefdom, and given the best Muslim
education available in his days. Rassin was an amazingly gifted student, and his intellectual achievements made him famous throughout northern Sierra Leone while still a young boy. When his Fula family came from Senegal to claim him, Chief Amadu, who now regarded Rassin as his son, refused to give him up.
When Alimamy Amadu died in 1845, the people of Mafonda chose Rassin as their chief. But Rassin was a modest man and refused to be crowned officially for several years.
From the outset of his rule, Alimamy Rassin made clear his hatred of war and all forms of violence. He set up a fund for the promotion of peace to be replenished from fines levied in the chief's court. He mediated successfully in political disputes in the Sanda Tendaren, Tonko, and Yoni chiefdom; occasionally sending his sons on official peace missions. When the Mandinka
army of Samori Toure reached Mafonda in 1885, and occupy many areas of northern Sierra Leone. The invaders were so impressed by Rassin's wise rule that they chose to withdraw and leave Mafonda in peace. The British
administration in Freetown
was equally impressed with Alimamy Rassin's rule and offered him a large annual stipend to continue with his efforts to establish peace among the interior rulers. But Rassin rejected the offer, arguing that it was unethical to accept payment for the promotion of peace. He ruled wisely for the benefit of his people and not for political favours from the British. Alimamy Rassin died in 1890, six years before the chiefs lost their independence to British rule.
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
who devoted his life to making peace among his people and fellow rulers.
Biography
Alimamy Rassin was born in 1825 in Mafonda, now Sanda Magbolonto Chiefdom, in the Northern ProvinceNorthern Province, Sierra Leone
The Northern Province is one of the four provincial divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises five Districts and covers an area of 35,936 km² and with a population of 1,718,240 . Its administrative and economic center is Makeni...
of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to a Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
father from Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and a Temne mother. When his father returned to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, Rassin was adopted by Alimamy Amadu, a Fula chief of Mafonda Chiefdom, and given the best Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
education available in his days. Rassin was an amazingly gifted student, and his intellectual achievements made him famous throughout northern Sierra Leone while still a young boy. When his Fula family came from Senegal to claim him, Chief Amadu, who now regarded Rassin as his son, refused to give him up.
When Alimamy Amadu died in 1845, the people of Mafonda chose Rassin as their chief. But Rassin was a modest man and refused to be crowned officially for several years.
From the outset of his rule, Alimamy Rassin made clear his hatred of war and all forms of violence. He set up a fund for the promotion of peace to be replenished from fines levied in the chief's court. He mediated successfully in political disputes in the Sanda Tendaren, Tonko, and Yoni chiefdom; occasionally sending his sons on official peace missions. When the Mandinka
Mandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
army of Samori Toure reached Mafonda in 1885, and occupy many areas of northern Sierra Leone. The invaders were so impressed by Rassin's wise rule that they chose to withdraw and leave Mafonda in peace. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
administration in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
was equally impressed with Alimamy Rassin's rule and offered him a large annual stipend to continue with his efforts to establish peace among the interior rulers. But Rassin rejected the offer, arguing that it was unethical to accept payment for the promotion of peace. He ruled wisely for the benefit of his people and not for political favours from the British. Alimamy Rassin died in 1890, six years before the chiefs lost their independence to British rule.
External links
- http://www.sierra-leone.org/heroes4.html