Fourah Bay College
Encyclopedia
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown
, Sierra Leone
. It is a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone
(from 1966 to 2005) and was formerly affiliated with Durham University
(from 1876-1967).
and other Africans seeking higher education under the British Empire
, especially in the fields of theology
and education. It was the first western-style university in West Africa. Under colonialism, Freetown was known as the "Athens
of Africa" as an homage to the college.
The first black principal of the university was an African American
missionary
, Reverend Edward Jones
from South Carolina
in the United States. Lamina Sankoh
was a prominent early academic; Francis Heiser
was principal from 1920 to 1922.Abioseh Nicol
was the first Sierra Leonean born administrator in 1966.
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...
, 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...
. It is a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone
University of Sierra Leone
The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone, which, as of May 2005, was reconstitued into the individual colleges of Fourah Bay College and Njala University. It is now affiliated to many colleges in Sierra Leone.-See also:* Fourah Bay...
(from 1966 to 2005) and was formerly affiliated with Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
(from 1876-1967).
History
Established in 1827 as an Anglican missionary school (by the Church Missionary Society), Fourah Bay College soon became a magnet for KrioKrio
Krio may refer to:*Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio language, language of the Sierra Leone Krio people*Krio Dayak people, an ethnic group in West Kalimantan, Indonesia*Krio Dayak language*Keriau River, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia...
and other Africans seeking higher education under 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...
, especially in the fields of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and education. It was the first western-style university in West Africa. Under colonialism, Freetown was known as the "Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
of Africa" as an homage to the college.
The first black principal of the university was an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, Reverend Edward Jones
Edward Jones (missionary)
Edward Jones was an African American missionary to the colony of Sierra Leone. Jones was a prominent missionary and figure in the colony of Sierra Leone; he was the first naturalized citizen of Sierra Leone . Jones was the first principal of Fourah Bay College...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in the United States. Lamina Sankoh
Lamina Sankoh
Lamina Sankoh , born as Etheldred Jones, was a prominent Sierra Leonean pre-independence politician, educator, banker and cleric. Sankoh is known most prominently for helping to found the People's Party in 1948, which was one of the first political parties in Sierra Leone...
was a prominent early academic; Francis Heiser
Francis Heiser
Francis Bernhard Heiser was a British Anglican priest who was principal of Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone before becoming principal of St Aidan's Theological College in Birkenhead.-Life:...
was principal from 1920 to 1922.Abioseh Nicol
Abioseh Nicol
Abioseh Davidson Nicol was a Sierra Leonean academic, diplomat, physician, writer and poet. He has been considered as one of Sierra Leone’s most educated citizens of recent times, as he was able to secure degrees on the art, science and commercial disciplines.-Early life:Nicol was born as Davidson...
was the first Sierra Leonean born administrator in 1966.
Notable alumni
- Ernest Bai KoromaErnest Bai KoromaErnest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
- Alexander Babatunde AkinyeleAlexander Babatunde AkinyeleAlexander Babatunde Akinyele, CBE was the first Anglican Diocesan Bishop of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the first indigene of Ibadan to obtain a university degree, and the founder of the first secondary school in Ibadan....
- Zainab BanguraZainab BanguraHaja Zainab Hawa Bangura is a Sierra Leonean politician and social activist. She is currently Sierra Leone minister of Health and sanitation. In 2007 Bangura became Sierra Leone's foreign minister in the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress Party...
- Kojo BotsioKojo BotsioKojo Botsio was a Ghanaian diplomat and politician. He studied in Britain, where he became the treasurer of the West African National Secretariat and an acting warden for the West African Students' Union...
- Henry Rawlingson CarrHenry Rawlingson CarrHenry Carr was a Nigerian educator and administrator, he was one of the most prominent West Africans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and was a member of the legislative council in Lagos from 1918-1924-Career in West Africa:...
- Samuel Ajayi CrowtherSamuel Ajayi CrowtherBishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther was a linguist and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria. Born in Osogun , Rev. Dr...
- Kenneth DikeKenneth DikeKenneth Dike was a Nigerian historian and the first Nigerian Vice Chancellor of the nation's premier college, the University of Ibadan. During the Nigerian civil war, he moved to Harvard University, Boston....
- Ella Koblo GulamaElla Koblo Gulamastyle="float:right;"|Ella Koblo Gulama was a Sierra Leonean paramount chief and politician. In 1957, she became the first elected female Member of Parliament in Sierra Leone and all of sub-Saharan Africa. She was re-elected in 1962...
- J. E. Casely HayfordJ. E. Casely HayfordJoseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford or Ekra-Agiman was a Fante journalist, author, lawyer, educator, and politician who supported pan-African nationalism...
- John Karefa-SmartJohn Karefa-SmartDr. John Albert Musselman Karefa-Smart was a politician from Sierra Leone and leader of the United National People's Party. He was an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church.-Education:...
- Sir Milton MargaiMilton MargaiSir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai was a Sierra Leonean politician and the first prime minister of Sierra Leone...
- Sam MbakweSam MbakweSamuel "Sam" Onunaka Mbakwe was an Igbo politician and governor of Imo State, southern Nigeria from October 1, 1979 until December 31, 1983....
- Dr. Kadi SesayKadi SesayDr. Kadiatu Sesay widely known as Kadi Sesay is a Sierra Leonean politician, feminist, pro-democracy advocate and the current deputy chairman of the Sierra Leone People's Party , She serves as Sierra Leone Minister of Trade and Industry from 2002 to 2007. She is the founder and Managing Director of...
Fourah Bay College today
As of 1998/1999, the student enrollment was around 2,000 in four faculties and five institutes. It had consistently expanded the 10 years previous.Current faculties
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
Current institutes
- Institute of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies
- Institute of African Studies
- Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography
- Institute of Population Studies
- Institute of Library and Archive Studies and Mass Communications
External links
- Fourah Bay College
- Sierra Leone Encyclopedia 2006 - Fourah Bay College
- http://www.ecu.edu/african/sersas/Papers/ParakaDanSpring2002.htm