By Jesmed Suma, USA.
The Konos and indeed Sierra Leone should be celebrating the birth of heroes like: Tamba Sungu Mbriwa read on to find out why:
At the declaration of Sierra Leone’s independence in April 27th 1961 the idea that people have a right to choose their own rulers was not new in political history. It was the foundation of every popular attempt to depose an undesirable colonial leadership.
The quest for Sierra Leone’s independence and self-determination was by no means exclusive to Dr. Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai though the most ardent advocate and the most skilful negotiator.
With him were other remarkable men of many talents and much wisdom who were also driven by the prospect of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness such as but not limited to then young Rev. Dr John Albert Musselman Karefa-Smart, Rev. Dr. William Henry Fitzjohn, Frank Anthony, Siaka Stevens, Rev. Eldred Jones (later known as Lamina Sankoh).
The path to independence was contentious in many ways, on one hand Sierra Leoneans with varying interest from different background and from different communities were determined to ensure that they continue to play a key role in the new dispensation at least to secure the interest of their communities. On the other hand the British who having discovered the economic potential of Sierra Leone through her many rich sort out mineral resources where determined not to grant independence to Sierra Leone if possible.
In the late 1940s to early 1950s many Youth movements and other pressure groups were formed, such as The People’s Party by Rev. Eldred Jones the first political party ever formed in Sierra Leone in 1948, with an interest to unify the creoles with the people from the interland (upland).
The Kono Progressive Movement by the great Tamba Sungu Mbriwa the first political party in rural Sierra Leone, whose focus was to secure the interest of the Kono people especially in relation with the diamonds extracted from their land for which they are still not benefiting enough from.
The West African Youth League was also formed and led by Isaac Wallace Johnson, he was seeking the interest of the creoles and Sierra Leone Independent Movement in 1957 by Edward Wilmot Blyden III whose initial focus was to make sure the creole’s position were well secure but facing competition from other creoles for community leadership merged with Tamba Mbriwa’s Kono Progressive Movement in 1957 to form “The Sierra Leone Progressive Independence Movement”.
It took the genius of Milton Margai, the vibrancy and reconciliatory spirit of Rev. Jones to create alliances to avert any serious confrontations between the different interest groups. In his attempt to reach out to the creoles and other groups, Dr Margai was able to unite The People’s Party with the Protectorate Education Progressive Union and the Sierra Leone Organization Society to form the Sierra Leone People’s Party. It would interest you to know that Siaka Stevens the founding father of the APC party was initially a member of the SLPP though not a founding member but participated in its launching. This came about because the Krio Nationalist parties were not interested in accepting membership from non-creole.
Instead the likes of Bankole Bright merged with Wallace Johnson’s West African Youth League to form the National Council of the colony of Sierra Leone while Cyril Rogers Wright headed the United Sierra Leone Progressive Party.
Dr. Margai and Rev. Jones together with their young but brilliant followers Dr. Karefa-Smart, Dr Fitzjohn, Frank Anthony had to skillfully negotiate with these different groups in an attempt to bring them on board and form a unified force that would eventually advocate for our independence. With such many contentions, he had to deal with and considering the fact that the British were not keen on accepting the wind of change at the time as Nigeria, Ghana and other African Nations demanded their independence it is reasonable to assume in this case that the British must have played a role in stirring the division that made the task difficult for Dr. Margai.
Therefore, after the 1951 constitution followed by an election Sierra Leone was granted partial independence headed by Dr. Margai as Chief Minister.
He used his new powers to offer executive positions to few other leaders in his continued attempt to forge a common understanding before proceeding to negotiating Sierra Leone’s independence.
To be continued:
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