Clifford Nelson Fyle
Encyclopedia
Professor Clifford Fyle (March 29, 1933—January 18, 2006) was a linguistics professor who authored the Sierra Leone National Anthem. He was the first Sierra Leonean to produce school books for the teaching of Sierra Leonean languages.
, which was then under the University of Durham, England
, Fyle obtained Bachelor's degree
in Languages and Mathematics
at age of 20. He started his successful career as an educationist after taking a Diploma
in Education
.
Fyle started working as a schoolteacher. He was also a politician—the first Publicity Secretary of the United Progressive Party
(UPP) and the third in command of the same party, after Cyril Rogers-Wright and John Nelson-Williams, before it merged with the Sierra Leone People's Party
(SLPP) forming the Government of National Unity that would lead Sierra Leone
to national independence from the British Empire
in 1961.
Fyle gave up politics to concentrate his efforts on education, later becoming a story writer. He was the author of the popular Bangurah-Cole stories which were published in the Sierra Leone Daily Mail in the mid-1950s.
In 1958, in the University of Durham, Fyle achieved a Master of Arts
degree in Education
; two years later, in 1960, he obtained a Bachelor's degree
in English
with honours. He then left the University of Durham and returned home to Sierra Leone, where, upon winning the competition of the words of the Sierra Leone National Anthem with his High We Exalt Thee? verses, he came to be known as the author of the Sierra Leone National Anthem.
Fyle was appointed as an Education Officer and School Inspector by the Ministry of Education in 1960. He was the youngest School Inspector on record at that time. Four years later, in 1964, Fyle became a foundation staff member of the newly opened Njala University College. Still determined to advance in Linguistics, Fyle completed postgraduate work in Linguistics in 1967, at the University of California at Los Angeles.
When he returned to Sierra Leone, he became Senior Lecturer
at Fourah Bay College
, where he attained his Professorship. He became the head of the Department of English and Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1977–1978.
Professor Fyle, now Master
of Languages and English
, was offered Secretaryship of the West African Linguistic Society, an organization whose international Congress Fyle had organized at the Cape Sierra Hotel in Freetown in 1974. He rejected the offer, opting instead for the language specialist position for UNESCO
in January 1978. In 1988 he became World Coordinator of Mother Tongue Languages and Vice President
of Research
.
With Professor Eldred Jones, Fyle co-authored the Krio-English Dictionary, which The Times
newspaper (London) referred to in 1980 as "blazing a worldwide trail" in modern linguistic study and lexicography
.
After retiring in 1993, Fyle returned to Sierra Leone and started producing school books in the four major languages of Sierra Leone which the Government had sanctioned for use in education: Mende
, Temne
, Limba
and Krio
. He produced and published 24 school textbooks. In 1995, Fyle established Lekon Publishing Company in Sierra Leone. Five years later, in 2000, Lekon New Dimension Publishing in Yonkers, New York
. This company was the one that published Sorie Conteh's The Diamonds. His last novels, These Old Colonial Hills and The Alpha were also published by the same company. Blood Brothers, an earlier novel of his, was nominated for the 1998 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
.
Professor Clifford Fyle died on January 18, 2006, in Yonkers, New York
.
, which was then an accredited college of the University of Durham, England
, he obtained a Bachelor's degree
in Languages and Mathematics
at the age of 20. He then started his career as an educationist after completing a Diploma
in Education
.
In 1958, at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, he obtained an MA in Education and two years later a Bachelor's degree
in English
with honours.
In addition, in 1967, he completed postgraduate work in Linguistics at the University of California
, Los Angeles
and at the Indiana University, Bloomington.
Biography
Clifford N. Fyle attended the Methodist Boys High School. In Fourah Bay CollegeFourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
, which was then under the University of Durham, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Fyle obtained Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Languages and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at age of 20. He started his successful career as an educationist after taking a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
Fyle started working as a schoolteacher. He was also a politician—the first Publicity Secretary of the United Progressive Party
United Progressive Party
There have been several political parties named the United Progressive Party.*For the main governing party in Antigua and Barbuda, see United Progressive Party ....
(UPP) and the third in command of the same party, after Cyril Rogers-Wright and John Nelson-Williams, before it merged with the Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
(SLPP) forming the Government of National Unity that would lead 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 national independence from the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in 1961.
Fyle gave up politics to concentrate his efforts on education, later becoming a story writer. He was the author of the popular Bangurah-Cole stories which were published in the Sierra Leone Daily Mail in the mid-1950s.
In 1958, in the University of Durham, Fyle achieved a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
; two years later, in 1960, he obtained a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
with honours. He then left the University of Durham and returned home to Sierra Leone, where, upon winning the competition of the words of the Sierra Leone National Anthem with his High We Exalt Thee? verses, he came to be known as the author of the Sierra Leone National Anthem.
Fyle was appointed as an Education Officer and School Inspector by the Ministry of Education in 1960. He was the youngest School Inspector on record at that time. Four years later, in 1964, Fyle became a foundation staff member of the newly opened Njala University College. Still determined to advance in Linguistics, Fyle completed postgraduate work in Linguistics in 1967, at the University of California at Los Angeles.
When he returned to Sierra Leone, he became Senior Lecturer
Senior lecturer
Senior lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a faculty position at a university or similar institution. Especially in research-intensive universities, lecturers lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
, where he attained his Professorship. He became the head of the Department of English and Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 1977–1978.
Professor Fyle, now Master
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
of Languages and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, was offered Secretaryship of the West African Linguistic Society, an organization whose international Congress Fyle had organized at the Cape Sierra Hotel in Freetown in 1974. He rejected the offer, opting instead for the language specialist position for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in January 1978. In 1988 he became World Coordinator of Mother Tongue Languages and Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
.
With Professor Eldred Jones, Fyle co-authored the Krio-English Dictionary, which The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper (London) referred to in 1980 as "blazing a worldwide trail" in modern linguistic study and lexicography
Lexicography
Lexicography is divided into two related disciplines:*Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries....
.
After retiring in 1993, Fyle returned to Sierra Leone and started producing school books in the four major languages of Sierra Leone which the Government had sanctioned for use in education: Mende
Mende language
Mende is a major language of Sierra Leone, with some speakers in neighboring Liberia. It is spoken by the Mende people and by other ethnic groups as a regional lingua franca in southern Sierra Leone....
, Temne
Temne language
Temne is a language of the Atlantic subfamily of Niger–Congo languages spoken in Sierra Leone by about 2 million first speakers. One of the country's most widely spoken languages, it is spoken by 30% of the country’s population...
, Limba
Limba language
Limba is an erstwhile Atlantic language of Sierra Leone. It is not closely related to other languages and appears to form its own branch of Niger–Congo. The eastern variety, spoken primarily in Guinea, is quite distinct.-References:...
and Krio
Krio language
Sierra Leone Krio is the lingua franca and the de facto national language spoken throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each...
. He produced and published 24 school textbooks. In 1995, Fyle established Lekon Publishing Company in Sierra Leone. Five years later, in 2000, Lekon New Dimension Publishing in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. This company was the one that published Sorie Conteh's The Diamonds. His last novels, These Old Colonial Hills and The Alpha were also published by the same company. Blood Brothers, an earlier novel of his, was nominated for the 1998 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
.
Professor Clifford Fyle died on January 18, 2006, in Yonkers, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Education
Clifford N. Fyle attended the Methodist Boys High School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At Fourah Bay CollegeFourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
, which was then an accredited college of the University of Durham, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he obtained a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Languages and Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the age of 20. He then started his career as an educationist after completing a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
In 1958, at the University of Durham in the United Kingdom, he obtained an MA in Education and two years later a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
with honours.
In addition, in 1967, he completed postgraduate work in Linguistics at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and at the Indiana University, Bloomington.