Herbert Bankole-Bright
Encyclopedia
Herbert Christian Bankole-Bright (23 August 1883 – 14 December 1958) was a well-known politician
in Sierra Leone
.
, Nigeria on August 23rd 1883. Bright was the son of Jacob 'Galba' and Letitia Bright, descendants of Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
. Bright's paternal grandfather, John Bright, was an ex-slave who had been liberated off a slave ship with his mother in 1823.
Bright studied medicine
at Edinburgh University before setting up a practice in Freetown
. At Edinburgh, Bright become 'politically awake' and became involved in a number of student activist debates and policies.
, and in 1925 he inspired Ladipo Solanke
's formation of the West African Students' Union
, becoming a founder member. The same year, he became one of the first three elected members of the Legislative Council of Sierra Leone. With Ernest Beoku-Betts
, he campaigned for increased suffrage
and against racism
, without success.
In 1939, following a feud with Isaac Wallace-Johnson
, Bright supported government measures to limit the activities of Johnson's Youth Leagues. This alienated many of Bright's supporters, and he temporarily stepped down from politics.
In the 1940s, Bright founded the National Council of Sierra Leone
, and it became the main opposition at the Sierra Leonean general election, 1951. After spending the next six years attempting to obstruct all government activities, the National Council lost all its seats at the 1957 election.
wrote a biography of H.C. Bankole-Bright which was dedicated to the author's family and his late sister, Lerina Taylor-Bright.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
.
Early life
Herbert Bankole-Bright was born in OkrikaOkrika
Okrika is a port town in Rivers State, Nigeria, capital of the Local Government Area of the same name. The town is situated on a small island just south of Port Harcourt, making it a suburb of the much larger city....
, Nigeria on August 23rd 1883. Bright was the son of Jacob 'Galba' and Letitia Bright, descendants of Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
Sierra Leone Liberated Africans
The Sierra Leone Liberated Africans were slaves freed by the British Royal Navy from slave ships on the high seas and brought to Freetown, now Sierra Leone's capital city. The Sierra Leone Creole Settlers and West Indian immigrants called the liberated Africans "Willyfoss niggers"....
. Bright's paternal grandfather, John Bright, was an ex-slave who had been liberated off a slave ship with his mother in 1823.
Bright studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at Edinburgh University before setting up a practice 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...
. At Edinburgh, Bright become 'politically awake' and became involved in a number of student activist debates and policies.
Political career
In 1918, Bright set up the Aurora newspaper, which he edited until 1925. In 1920, he was a founder member of the National Congress of British West AfricaNational Congress of British West Africa
The National Congress of British West Africa , founded in 1920, was the earliest nationalist organization in West Africa, and one of the earliest formal organizations working toward African emancipation...
, and in 1925 he inspired Ladipo Solanke
Ladipo Solanke
Ladipo Solanke was a political activist who campaigned on West African issues.Born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, as Oladipo Felix Solanke, he studied at the Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone before moving to study law at University College, London in 1922.In Britain, Solanke joined the Union of Students...
's formation of the West African Students' Union
West African Students' Union
The West African Students' Union was an association of students from various West African countries who were studying in the United Kingdom.-Origins:...
, becoming a founder member. The same year, he became one of the first three elected members of the Legislative Council of Sierra Leone. With Ernest Beoku-Betts
Ernest Beoku-Betts
Sir Ernest Samuel Beoku-Betts was a prominent Sierra Leonean lawyer who was very active in civic matters. He served first as member of the Freetown City Council and subsequently as its mayor . He improved the city and reorganized the council...
, he campaigned for increased suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
and against racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, without success.
In 1939, following a feud with Isaac Wallace-Johnson
Isaac Wallace-Johnson
Isaac Theophilus Akunna Wallace-Johnson was a Sierra Leonean and British West African workers' leader, journalist, activist and politician. Born into a poor Creole family in Sierra Leone, he emerged as a natural leader in school...
, Bright supported government measures to limit the activities of Johnson's Youth Leagues. This alienated many of Bright's supporters, and he temporarily stepped down from politics.
In the 1940s, Bright founded the National Council of Sierra Leone
National Council of Sierra Leone
The National Council of Sierra Leone was the main opposition party in Sierra Leone in the early 1950s.The organisation was founded by former members of the Sierra Leonean branch of the National Congress of British West Africa around Herbert Bankole-Bright and Isaac Wallace-Johnson in 1950...
, and it became the main opposition at the Sierra Leonean general election, 1951. After spending the next six years attempting to obstruct all government activities, the National Council lost all its seats at the 1957 election.
Legacy
Professor Akintola J.G. WyseAkintola J.G. Wyse
Professor Akintola J.G. Wyse was a Creole professor of history at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, until his death in 2002. Wyse was the author of H.C...
wrote a biography of H.C. Bankole-Bright which was dedicated to the author's family and his late sister, Lerina Taylor-Bright.