By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
232News
Few months ago, the United States Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) announced the first phase of 1.5 million dollars to save the old Fourah Bay College (FBC) building at Cline Town, east of Freetown.
The announcement of the project funded by AFCP was made through the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the World Monuments Fund when they signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday 18th February 2022 for the preservation project to save the old FBC building.
FBC was the first Western-style university in Sub-Saharan Africa and is a living testimony to the idealism and the power of education. Established in 1827, it produced the earliest leaders in West Africa including many leaders of the independence movements that helped end colonialism and is immensely important in the history of Sierra Leone and the region in addition to the fact that it is a protected national monument.
World Monuments Fund is the implementing partner for the United States Ambassadors Funds for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant, awarded in 2021, to preserve old FBC. The grant covers the first phase of what will likely be a multi-phase project. The scope of the first grant is to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the structure, carry out limited emergency stabilization to prevent further damage and develop a plan for reuse of the structure in consultation with the community and other key stakeholders.
TRACE visited the old FBC building before the announcement of the grant. The building was an eyesore as it was only fenced by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Ministry without any other use. Its surrounding is gradually becoming a market center despite the medical office that is adjacent to it.
TRACE moved around the perimeter fence just to view the inside of the building and noticed that the structure has suffered lot of damage as the walls were falling apart.
It was indeed a need for urgency to save the old age history of Sierra Leone education.
The American Ambassador, David Reimer underscored at that event, that the restoration was funded by the United States Ambassadors Funds for Cultural Preservation, demonstrates American values in action and the United States leadership in preserving cultural heritage sites like the old FBC.
“It is my hope that preserving this site ensures that the next generation of Sierra Leonean leaders can continue to draw inspiration from the triumphs of education, culture and science of the past.”
It is no secret that Sierra Leone lacks the culture of maintenance and this lack of such culture is wiping out the history of the country. These are things other countries are using to attract tourists and make huge amount of money out of besides creating jobs for the jobless.
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, reiterated the historic event, that the United States Ambassadors Funds for Cultural Preservation also funded the restoration of Bunce Island, that within a very short time of arriving in the country the American Ambassador has done extremely well.
She recalled that President Julius Madda Bio has visited the building and that restoration of the iconic building is a win for both the United States and Sierra Leone.
Dr. Pratt enlightened that for many years the building was the center of educational pursuit but was abandoned during World War II but has remained an enigma in the world, a masterpiece work of art, a beacon of hope intimating that some of the materials used to construct the building were taken from abandoned slave ships and informed that government would also contribute counterpart funding to the project.
The Minister also appealed to the United States Ambassador for skills training in restoration and preservation that are lacking in the country highlighting that the country has “so many monuments and cultural sites nationwide.” .
The President and Chief Executive Officer of World Monuments Fund, Benedicte de Montlaur, described the project as one that reflects the shared values of the United States and Sierra Leone to working with local communities to protect their heritage for future generations and preserving structures that can help tell a more textured and complete story of human experience.
Professor John Kargbo of the History Department FBC, pointed out that the history of Sierra Leone is not compete without the old FBC building and that they cherish the venture adding that FBC has served six generations.
February 18th marked FBC 179 years old and has served six generations but what they should have pointed at is in a state turmoil due to lack of culture of maintenance by its own people. It high time the government and people of this country prioritises the culture of maintenance which can save a lot of and generate more income for both government and individual.
TRACE will revisit the old FBC building when proper work commences as they are the pioneering institution of learning, hoping to rise again for its ruined to offer different services.
TRACE Joenal is a regular column brought to you by Ibrahim Joenal Sesay, Senior Staff Writer of SALONE TIMES NEWSPAPER, Best Human Right Reporting award winner and Advocate for Change in Sierra Leone. You can follow him on E-mail salonesij@gmail.com/ www.232news.com /Twitter & Facebook @tracejoenal
