Fanta, Lady Singhateh, CRG
First Lady of the Gambia
In office
February 9, 1966 – April 24, 1970
Governor GeneralSir Farimang Singhateh
Preceded byKathleen Paul
Succeeded byChilel Jawara
Personal details
Born(1929-07-13)13 July 1929
Georgetown
(present-day Janjanbureh), British Gambia
Died12 May 2023(2023-05-12) (aged 93)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1949; died 1977)​

Fanta, Lady Singhateh, CRG (13 July 1929 – 12 May 2023), also known as Fatou Fanta Basse Sagnia,[1] or Sagniang[2] was First Lady of the Gambia from 1966 to 1970.

Biography

Singahteh was born in Georgetown, modern Janjanbureh, The Gambia, on 13 July 1929. In 1949, she married Sir Farimang Singhateh, then medical officer, but future Governor-General of the Gambia.[2] They had six children together.[2] She and her husband, who were 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 one 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 of the Gambia from 1966 to 1970, when her husband was the Governor-General of the Gambia.[6] They were both the first Gambians to be in those posts, he as Governor-General, she as First Lady.[1] In her role, she was concerned with welfare and encouraged philanthropic schemes aimed at supporting women.[6] She was a strong advocate of communal, cultural and social development.[3]

In her 90s, she opened a bakery providing low-cost products, enabling everyone to buy bread.[5] She died on 12 May 2023, at the age of 93.[7]

Awards

In 2012, Singhateh became a Commander in the Order of the Republic of the Gambia (CRG).[8] 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]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 West Africa. West Africa Publishing Company, Limited, Michigan, 1966, p.477.
  3. 1 2 3 "Constructional works on infrastructural development". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  4. ↑ The voice of the people: the story of the PPP, 1959-1989. Bakary Dabo. Baroueli, 1992
  5. 1 2 Ltd, Fresco Software Solution Pvt. "Foday Singhateh | AFRIFAMU". DAORA BEADS. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  6. 1 2 "Lady Fanta Singhateh – She Awards Gambia". Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  7. ↑ Gambia former first lady Fanta Singhateh dies aged 96
  8. ↑ "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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