Old Man Musing

In evergreen loving memory of Alhaji Kalilou Foday-Ba Singhateh !!!!

😭 😭 😭

Ba Kalilou Singhateh, as he was most affectionately called, was, together with Muhammadu Cadi Cham, also widely known as “M C”, perhaps the only living politicians who had attended the Marlborough House Conference on the 23rd July 1964 to negotiate for Gambia’s independence.

Alas, today 19 January 2025, he is no more, as he has now transitioned onto the glory of his Maker.

“From God we all came and To God we shall all return” – as the Holy book teaches us.

Indeed, Alhaji Kalilou Singhateh was a national hero, in his own rights, and must now also be publicly acclaimed and celebrated accordingly.

So this short piece is not a biography but a brief salutation to an unsung legend, a titanic figure, a shining beacon, an irradiant lighthouse, an outstanding role model, a brilliant politician, a revered Patriarch, a loving grandfather, a caring husband and father, nay an inspirational leader, who had remained fearlessly strong and only wanted to enjoy what the Almighty God had gifted him and indeed what life had offered him.

Therefore, he had thus continued to live a most fulfilling and exemplary life which was a great testimony of how we should all strive to live and emulate.

With a radiant personality, he taught all of us who came in contact with him never to give up without a fight.

As such, he was able to instil in all of us, close relatives and friends, to always have a vision, to always have social graces, to always strive for excellence, nay to always have civic and honest pride.

In so being, “eMbitang” (“In-Law” in the vernacular), as we used to call each other, had always spoken in the continuous tense and, as such, had always brought hope and inspiration purposefully to all.

In passing, born in Badibu Sarba, Alhaji Kalilou Singhateh was first elected to parliament in 1962 and having also held a Ministerial position, notably in the 1st Republic, he had indeed joined the Gambian delegation that had travelled to Marlborough House in London (UK) for the Constitutional Talks that had rightfully paved the way for the Gambia’s independence in 1965.

The delegation members and representatives that had also travelled to Marlborough House in London (UK) for the Constitutional Congress were Duncan Sandy of the British delegation, Governor General Sir John Warberton Paul; Prime Minister Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Sheriff Saikouba Ceesay, Sheriff Mustapha Dibba, Famara Wasa Touray, Amang Soli Kanyi and Kalilou Foday-Ba Singhateh, all of the PPP party delegation; Pierre Sarr Njie, Ebrima Njie, I.A.S. Burang-John, Kebba Foon and M.C. Cham, all from the opposition; Rachel Palmer of the Civil Society; Momodou Ebrima Jallow of the Workers Union; The Rev John Colley Faye, Alhagie I.M. Garba Jahumpa, and Alhagie Alieu Badara Njie, all of the Alliance; while the meeting was chaired by Lord Milverton.

Others who did not directly or personally participate in the London Talks but had also helped, in no small measure, to achieve our Independence were those dignitaries such as the chiefs of Kombo Faraba, Jama Bojang of Brufut, Wangi Bojang of Sanyang, Saikou Dandanba of Brikama, Modou Musa Njie of Banjul and many others.

Besides, Alhaji Kalilou Singhateh had truly been a highly respected pubic servant, both national and international, as he had also subsequently taken up an appointment at the UNESCO headquarters (Paris, France), under former Director General Amadou Mahtar-Mbow (Senegalese national), where he had worked, for some 2 decades, admirably well with singular diligence and professional integrity until his mandatory retirement.

Indeed, a rare personality of exceptional character and courage !!!

Lastly, our heartfelt and indebted thanks, albeit belatedly, nay posthumously, to Alhaji Kalilou Foday-Ba Singhateh for his selfless and meritorious services to his country, The Gambia, to the United Nations family, notably UNESCO as well as to humanity and humankind.

We, therefore hereby, wish to convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the entire Singhateh families (both immediate and extended), to relatives and friends (both at home and abroad) on the sad occasion of the painful demise and irreparable loss of one of our greatest sons of  the soil.

May the Almighty God, Allah, overlook his shortcomings, if any, and grant him a final resting abode in His blissful heavenly Al Jannah.

Goodbye, my “eMbitang”.

RIP (Rest In Peace) !!!

RIP (Rest In Power) !!!

🙏🏾 🙏🏾 🙏🏾

Hassan Gibril

(Your Beloved “eMbitang”)