Edward Francis Small
Edward Francis Small | |
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Member of the Legislative Council for Bathurst | |
In office 31 December 1941 – 1958 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 29 January 1891 Bathurst, British Gambia |
Died | January 1958 (aged 66–67) |
Political party | Rate Payers' Association |
Edward Francis Small (29 January 1891 – January 1958) was a Gambian statesman who has been described as the "trailblazer of Gambian political consciousness."[1] One of the few educated Africans in the Gambia Colony and Protectorate during the early 20th century, Small founded the country's first trade union (Bathurst Trade Union), the country's first political party (Rate Payers' Association), and was the first citizen elected to its legislature. He was also a delegate to and leader of the National Congress of British West Africa (NCBWA).[2][3][4]
Early life and education
Small was born in
Missionary work
Small joined the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in Bathurst. He earned the respect of the Mission people and was sent to open a mission in Balanghar, then a thriving trading town and holiday resort. He spent 18 months there before being sent to Sukuta following a physical confrontation with a white trader over bell ringing. The Divisional Commissioner sided with the white trader in the dispute, resulting in Small's removal to Sukuta. The incident has since been described as an "imperialist maneuver [in] getting rid of an unwanted person".[6]
Nationalism and pan-Africanism
Part of the Politics series on |
Pan-Africanism |
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Small aimed to empower the ordinary people of Gambia, especially farmers and workers. As one of the few educated Africans in the territory, he aimed to empower them with knowledge and information. He organised evening classes for village people, and founded the first nationalist newspaper in the country. He used this to reach his followers even when in exile in Senegal. He founded the Gambia Native Defense Union (GNDU) alongside other Akus. He also founded The Gambia Farmer's Cooperative Association in 1917, and the Bathurst Trade Union in 1929. He attended a conference in Accra, the Gold Coast, in 1920, delivering a speech on the right of West Africans to self-rule. The result of the conference was the formation of the National Congress of British West Africa, and Small set up the Gambian branch on his return.[1][5]
In 1922 Small founded a newspaper, the Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter, which was published for the first time in
Small also created a political network during his visit to the
Small was appointed to the
Alongside
Legacy
Small's trade unionism inspired Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof, who went on to organise and lead the Bread and Butter Demonstration of 1959 that paved the way for Gambian independence.[16][17][18]
References
- ^ a b c "Edward Francis Small - Watchdog of The Gambia". The Point. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Edward Francus Small's monument "in limbo" Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine Foroyaa Online, 7 August 2007
- ^ a b The Road to Independence Archived 2009-08-21 at the Wayback Machine State House
- ^ a b Aku People in Gambia AccessGambia.com
- ^ a b "Video Documentary on Edward Francis Small". The Point. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ "The Forthcoming Celebration of the 118 Birthday Ceremony of Edward Francis Small". Africa.gm. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ISBN 9780810862609 [1]
- ^ History of the Independence Movement AboutGambia.com
- ^ The Road to Independence Archived February 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Daily Observer
- ^ ISBN 9781496206206 [2]
- ISBN 9789004261686
- ^ "No. 39263". The London Gazette. 2 February 1951. p. 3363.
- ^ "No. 39139". The London Gazette. 19 June 1951. p. 602.
- ^ "No. 38160". The London Gazette. 30 December 1947. p. 6163.
- ^ "No. 35414". The London Gazette. 9 January 1942. p. 195.
- ^ Exclusive interview with Foroyaa Panorama ("TRIBUTE TO ALHAJI A.E. CHAM JOOF") Foroyaa, 16 May 2011
- ^ Joof, Cham (1959) The root cause of the bread and butter demonstration
- ^ Joof, Cham Party Politics in the Gambia, 1945-1970, p53–56