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Momodou
Denmark
11646 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Aug 2007 : 21:57:51
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EDWARD FRANCIS SMALL’S MONUMENT “IN LIMBO”By Abdou Jeli Keita
The monument of Edwards Francis Small a person widely regarded as the father of modern Gambia Politics is still in limbo. This most important monument in the history of our beloved Gambia, located in the epicentre of the city of Banjul has been neglected.
Little do Gambians know about this great man (Edward F. Small), how immensely he contributed in our struggle to attain independence. Indeed, this great man greatly contributed in our drive to self government.
He is the father of Trade Unionism in The Gambia and this may have led The Gambia National Trade Union Congress (GNTUC); in this year’s workers’ day celebration to call on the Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment, President Jammeh and other stakeholders, to assist in rebuilding Edward F. Small’s Monument at The GAMTEL roundabout in the epicentre of Banjul in order to keep his legacy in the minds of Gambians.
It will be a disillusionment to realise that The GAMTEL roundabout is being Redesigned and re-built while neglecting the monument in the centre of the roundabout.
The Gamtel Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Abou Othman, in an interview with Foroyaa Newspaper, said Gamtel is sponsoring the rebuilding of the roundabout at an undisclosed amount. He added that this rebuilding has nothing to do with the call by the Trade Unions to assist in rebuilding the Edward F. Small Monument.
He said the rebuilding of the roundabout is geared towards 13 years celebration of the July22 1994 takeover.
New monuments are seen being built, but this most important monument to remember and honour Edward Francis Small, a great son of The Gambia, is being neglected.
This reporter spoke to many people who called on President Jammeh, to assist in the rebuilding of the Edward Francis Small Monument. Mr. Dawda Faal, a historian, wrote the following:
‘’Edward Francis Small is widely regarded as the father of modern Gambian politics. He formed the first quasi political organisation in The Gambia. He was born in Bathurst in January 1891. He completed his education at the Methodist Boys High School in Freetown and started to work there, in Freetown in 1910.
He then held a series of clerical jobs in both Freetown and Bathurst before becoming a teacher in Bathurst in 1915.
While a teacher, Small decided to become a clergyman in the Methodist Mission.
In 19 17, he was sent to Ballanghar to serve a probationary period as agent of the Methodist Mission, but within eighteen months he was dismissed from mission employment. Small’s dismissal followed what has been referred to as the “Ballanghar incident”. On New Year’s Eve 1918 Small ordered the bell of the mission chapel at Ballanghar to be tolled heralding the annual watch night service. The sound disturbed one James Walker, a European trader living in the
town; and an argument developed between the two leading to Small’s dismissal.
This “Ballanghar incident” was to serve as the starting point for the political career of Edward Francis Small. The travelling commissioner at the time Mr. J.L. Mocallum, insisted in the removal of Small from Ballanghar. Under pressure from The Gambia Colonial government, Rev. P.S. Toys, the Chairman of The Gambia District of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, withdrew Small to Sukuta. Small
resented the treatment he received from the Church and proceeded to criticise Rev. Toys openly and was consequently dismissed from the mission employment.
Small together with other discontented members of the Aku Community, Founded The Gambia Native Defense Union (GNDU), who attacked what they called “the blatant flaws in the administration of the central Government”.
Meanwhile, in the other British West African Colonies preparations were being finalised for a conference of educated West Africans to take place in the Former Gold Coast. Since the organizers of the conference wished all four British West African Colonies to be represented, support was sought for in The Gambia. Small was able to convert the (GNDU) into the conference’s fund raising committee in
Bathurst. Enough money was raised for one Gambian delegate to attend and Small, as the Secretary of the Fund raising committee, was selected to represent The Gambia.
At the Accra conference of March 1920, Small who was one of the Principal Speakers, delivered on the right of West Africans to self determination. The Accra conference resolved itself as the National Congress of British West African NCBWA. Small arrived back in Bathurst in May 1920 and within a short time had established The Gambia Chapter of the NCBWA and became its Secretary.
Edward Francis Small was also a pioneer Gambian Journalist. In the 1920’s he published and edited “The Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter” producing the first edition in Dakar. He would later found The Gambia Outlook. As a journalist Small established a tradition of critical and independent political journalism in the country. Small always took up issues of concern to the people of Bathurst in the pages of The Gambia Outlook and was also quite prepared to criticise government policy.
In 1929 Edward F. Small Founded the first Gambia Trade Union, the Bathurst Trade Union (BTU), which was “strong enough to organise the first labour strike in Gambian history in 1929, marking one of the most successful strikes in Africa before the Second World War. Edward F. Small by early 1930’s, was again in the thick of politics as the leader of the Rate Payers Association (RPA). The RPA was the first quasi-political party in The Gambia.
Edward F. Small went on to represent the municipal council in the legislative council between 1942 and 1947. When the elective principle was first introduced for the legislative council in 1947, Small became the first Gambian to win a popular vote. Sponsored by his labour union, Small defeated Sheikh Omar Faye and I.M. Garba Jahumpa and became the elected representative for Banjul and the Kombo area in the legislative council.
Edward Francis Small will be remembered as the founder of The Gambia Branch of the National Congress of British West African. He was the first Gambian to be directly elected to the legislative council and the first to be appointed to the executive council. He was also the driving force behind the Bathurst Rate Prayers’ Association which dominated the politics of Bathurst in the 1930’s and 1940’s. He founded the first Gambia Trade Union and created the modern Gambian Press.
Small continued to play an important role as a political activist, trade unionist and journalist for Gambian and non-Gambian movements until his death in January 1958.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 91/2007, 6-7 August, 2007
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