Fanta Singhateh

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Lady

Fanta Singhateh
Born13 July 1929
Janjanburah
OccupationFirst Lady 1966-70
Spouse(s)Sir Farimang Singhateh
HonoursCommander of the Order of the Gambia

Fanta Singhateh also known as Fatou Fanta Basse Sagnia[1] or Sagniang[2] (born 13 July 1929, Janjanburah) is a former First Lady of the Gambia.

Biography[]

Singahteh was born in Georgetown, modern Janjanbureh, Gambia, on 13 July 1929. In 1949 she married Farimang Singhateh, then medical officer, but future Governor General of the Gambia.[2] They had six children together.[2] She and her husband, who are both Ahmadiyya, went on the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca in 1964.[2]

Politics[]

Singhateh and her husband were early members of the People's Progressive Party, which was founded in 1959.[1] As part of their work within the party they campaigned for the end of colonialism.[3] Singhateh herself was known as a radical within the party.[4] Prior to her marriage, Singhateh was an activist and was of the first people to receive charitable shipments of second-hand clothing from Belgium to distribute in regions like Bakoteh, Sukuta and rural villages.[5]

Singhateh served as First Lady from 1966-70, when her husband was elected.[6] They both the first Gambians to be in those posts, he as Governor General, she as First Lady.[1] In her role, Singhateh was concerned with welfare and encouraged philanthropic schemes aimed at supporting women.[6] She is a strong advocate of communal, cultural and social development.[3]

Aged over 90, she opened a bakery which charges low prices, enabling everyone to buy bread.[5]

Awards[]

In 2012, Singhateh became a Commander in the .[7] When her husband was awarded a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II, Singhateh could adopt the title Lady, and became known to many in the Gambia as 'Lady Fanta'.[3]

External links[]

Sir Farimang Singhateh Foundation

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Hughes, Arnold (2008). Historical dictionary of The Gambia. Perfect, David, 1960- (4th ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-8108-5825-1. OCLC 212627111.
  2. ^ a b c d West Africa. West Africa Publishing Company, Limited, Michigan, 1966, p.477.
  3. ^ a b c "Constructional works on infrastructural development". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2020-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ The voice of the people: the story of the PPP, 1959-1989. Bakary Dabo. Baroueli, 1992
  5. ^ a b Ltd, Fresco Software Solution Pvt. "Foday Singhateh | AFRIFAMU". DAORA BEADS. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  6. ^ a b "Lady Fanta Singhateh – She Awards Gambia". Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  7. ^ "President Jammeh confers national awards on 309 - Daily Observer". 2012-05-09. Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
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