Ralphina Da Almeida Tribute

ralmeida

Fri, Apr 15, 2011 at 10:51 AM

To: Cherno Omar BARRY

Dear General Secretary Cherno,

Thanks so much for transmitting the profoundly sad obituary message about the demise of our dear colleague, Dawda Faal.He was one of our finest teachers-cum-authors of Gambian History, throughout his professional career.

I recall his pioneering achievements in ensuring that the study of our national historical heritage was firmly established in the academic culture of High Schools such as, Armitage in Georgetown (Janjangbureh) and Muslim High in Banjul.

His history text book on The Gambia was iconic when it apppeared on the scholastic scene, where it creatively responded to the dire need to fill the then existing lacuna created by a dirth of documentary resouces for teaching Gambian history, which is grounded on authoritative narration and interpretation that is authenticated by the perspectives of a national expert. The immortalised value of Dawda Faal's acdemic contribution was his singular and indelible locating of Gambian History in the disciplinary annals of the Curriculum portfolio of the West African Examinations Council, to which he rendered meritorious service, for many years!

I remember also with fond appreciation how Dawda stood galantly in the ranks of the members of the Executive Committee, over which I presided, who strenuously pioneered the inauguration of the Gambia History Teachers Association at the Gambia College, where I was engaged in the capacity of Principal Lecturer in Education, in the mid-1970s.

Other now celebrated members/historians of that first Association included Patience Sonko-Godwin( historian/writer); Pa Njie (later, Principal of Muslim High School); the late Simon Bakurin (subsequently, Deputy- Head, National Office of the West African Examinations Council); Ousainou Loum (currently, Lecturer in Education at The University of The Gambia); Willie Carr (ex-Principal of Gambia High School), among others.

I am confident that I speak on behalf of all his former colleagues, when I say that his passing away is a tremendous loss to the community of Gambian historians and teachers, as well as the Gambian nation. In their name I also extend condolences to his family.

May God grant him eternal and peaceful repose!

Yours sincerely,

Ralphina de Almeida

-Ex- President, Writers' Association of The Gambia;

-Former History Teacher, Armitage, St. Joseph's & St.

Augustine's High Schools,

-Currently, Senior Lecturer, University of The Gambia.

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