SIR DAWDA KAIRABA JAWARA

Africa Salutes a Man of Peace

On May 16, 1924, in the quiet Mandinka town of Barajally in the MacCarthy Island Division of The Gambia, a child was born who would one day transform the destiny of his nation. His parents, Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara, named him David Kairaba Jawara. He was the son of a prosperous farmer, deeply rooted in Mandinka tradition and values. His father recognized early that among his six sons, David had a unique spark and a gift for learning. With this foresight, Almami selected him for formal education, believing that this young boy would be best suited to navigate both tradition and modernity.

Jawara’s first lessons were at a local Islamic primary school, where he acquired discipline and grounding in spiritual values. His name, Kairaba, meaning “peace” in Mandinka, seemed prophetic. Peace was to be both his guiding principle and his enduring legacy. As he advanced, Jawara attended the Methodist Boys’ High School in Bathurst, now known as Gambia High School. The move from a small village to the colonial capital broadened his horizons, giving him exposure to Western education while retaining his Mandinka roots. His brilliance in science secured him a place at Achimota College in Ghana, one of West Africa’s most prestigious schools, in 1945. Achimota, a training ground for African leaders, exposed Jawara to the winds of change sweeping across the continent—anti-colonial struggles, debates on self-rule, and the vision of Pan-African unity. After two years, his pursuit of knowledge carried him even further afield, to Scotland. At the University of Glasgow, Jawara studied veterinary medicine, a profession that would tie him deeply to rural communities upon his return. He became not only a doctor of animals but also a doctor of people’s hopes, bridging modern science and the agricultural traditions of his people.

Return to the Gambia

In 1954, armed with his veterinary degree, Jawara returned to The Gambia. He accepted a post as the government’s Veterinary Officer, working in the Protectorate, where most Gambians lived. There, he encountered firsthand the daily realities of his people—the struggles of farmers battling disease, poverty, and neglect under British colonial rule. The job took him into the heart of rural life, far removed from the colonial administrators of Bathurst. Jawara’s fieldwork gave him more than professional experience; it connected him to the very soul of his nation. The farmers trusted him, respected his humility, and saw in him not just an educated man, but one of their own who understood their plight. In these years, the seeds of leadership were quietly sown. When he returned to Bathurst on weekends, Jawara mingled with young intellectuals and politicians who were beginning to question colonial rule. He joined the Protectorate People’s Party (PPP), a political movement that gave voice to Gambians outside the capital.

Into Politics

The 1950s and early 1960s were decades of political awakening across Africa. Ghana achieved independence in 1957 under Kwame Nkrumah, inspiring others. In The Gambia, Jawara rose quickly through the PPP, eventually becoming its leader. His calm, conciliatory style and deep rural connections distinguished him from the elite-dominated political class of Bathurst. The Gambia was a tiny strip of land along the River Gambia, surrounded by French-speaking Senegal. With a population of less than half a million, many doubted its viability as an independent state. Some British officials considered merging it with Senegal. But Jawara, with his quiet determination, argued that The Gambia could and should stand on its own. His leadership proved decisive. He negotiated skillfully with Britain, maintaining a balance between Protectorate and Colony interests. By 1962, he became Prime Minister, leading the country through the final stages of self-rule.

Independence

On February 18, 1965, the Union Jack was lowered in Bathurst, and the Gambian flag rose proudly. The Gambia became Africa’s smallest mainland nation to gain independence, and Dawda Jawara was sworn in as the country’s first Prime Minister. In 1970, after a referendum, The Gambia became a republic, and Jawara was elected its first President. The moment was historic. Against all odds, The Gambia had resisted absorption into larger neighbors, standing as a sovereign state. At the center of it all was a man whose very name meant peace, guiding his people with humility rather than force.

Leadership and Vision

Jawara’s leadership style was markedly different from many of his contemporaries in postcolonial Africa. While some leaders fell into authoritarianism, Jawara remained committed to democracy, pluralism, and dialogue. For over 30 years, he led The Gambia with relative stability, ensuring that the country avoided the coups, civil wars, and dictatorial regimes that plagued much of the continent.

His policies emphasized:

• Education – Expanding schools beyond      the colonial elite to include rural children.

• Health – Strengthening clinics and      basic healthcare in the Protectorate.

• Agriculture – Supporting rural farmers,      with a focus on groundnuts, The Gambia’s main cash crop.

• Foreign Policy – Maintaining neutrality,      peace, and cooperation, especially with Senegal.

He was also a believer in Pan-Africanism. Though his nation was small, Jawara made sure The Gambia had a voice in the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Challenges and Trials

Jawara’s presidency was not without challenges. The economy remained heavily dependent on groundnut exports, vulnerable to global market fluctuations. Droughts, poverty, and rural underdevelopment persisted. In 1981, a Marxist-inspired coup attempt shook the country, but with Senegalese help, Jawara restored order. This crisis later led to the short-lived Senegambia Confederation (1982–1989), a bold experiment in regional unity. Despite these difficulties, Jawara retained popular support. His ability to listen, mediate, and maintain peace made him a rare figure in a turbulent region. However, in 1994, after three decades in power, he was overthrown in a bloodless coup led by a young lieutenant, Yahya Jammeh. Jawara went into exile, reflecting the reality that even the most peaceful leaders can be swept aside by history’s tides.

Legacy of Peace

When he eventually returned to The Gambia, Jawara was celebrated not as a fallen leader but as a national father. His legacy is anchored not in monuments of stone, but in the living memory of peace. Unlike many postcolonial states, The Gambia’s independence was achieved without bloodshed, and for decades its people lived without civil war. This was largely due to Jawara’s temperament and vision. His Mandinka name, Kairaba—Peace, shaped his destiny. He was not a fiery orator or a revolutionary warrior; he was a peacemaker, a man who believed that true leadership was about listening, balancing, and guiding. Jawara passed away on August 27, 2019, at the age of 95. At his state funeral, Gambians and Africans alike saluted him as a statesman who embodied humility, dignity, and stability.

Africa Salutes You, Sir Dawda

We Africans are proud of our great leaders. The Gambia, though small in size, produced a man whose heart was vast enough to carry the hopes of his people. His biography is not just the story of a politician; it is the story of how peace, when lived as a principle, can transform a nation. Kairaba Jawara’s life reminds us that leadership is not measured only in wealth or monuments, but in the absence of fear, the presence of dialogue, and the dignity of one’s people.

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Africa salutes you. The Gambia salutes you. The youth of tomorrow will learn from you. Peace was your name, and peace was your gift.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dawda-Kairaba-Jawara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawda_Jawara