Edward Francis Small
Encyclopedia
Edward Francis Small was a Gambian
trade unionist and politician. The founder of the country's first trade union, he was the first Gambian to be directly elected to the legislative council or to be appointed to the executive council, and is widely regarded as the father of Gambian politics.
(now Banjul) in 1891. He finished his education at the Methodist Boys High School in Freetown
in Sierra Leone
, and in 1910 he began working at the school in Freetown, before returning to Bathurst to work as a teacher in 1915.
He joined the Methodist
mission and was sent to Ballanghar to serve as an agent. However, around eighteen months later, following a fight with a local trader over bell ringing, Small was instead sent to Sukuta
by PS Toys, chairman of the Gambia Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was later sacked by the church for openly criticising Toys. Alongside other Akus, Small founded the Gambia Native Defense Union (GNDU), which attacked the "blatant flaws in the administration of the central Government". He attended a conference in Accra
in the Gold Coast
in 1920, delivering a speech on the right of West Africans to self-rule. The result of the conference was the formation of the National Congress of British West Africa
, with Small setting up a Gambian branch upon his return.
During the 1920s he established a newspaper, the Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter, and in 1929, founded the country's first trade union
, the Bathurst Trade Union
, which in the same year organised the country's first strike. He went on to establish the Rate Payers' Association during the 1930s, which was the country's first quasi-political party and dominated local politics in the city, winning all six seats open to African candidates in the 1936 elections.
Between 1941 and 1947 Small represented Bathurst Municipal Council in the country's legislative council, first being appointed on 31 December 1941. In 1947 the country's first election
was held for a single seat on the council. Backed by his union, Small was victorious, beating I.M. Garba Jahumpa (who went on to found the Muslim Congress Party
) and Sheikh Omar Faye, and was appointed to the country's executive council on 11 December 1947. He was reappointed to the council again on 18 January 1951 and 12 June 1951.
He continued to be involved in politics until his death in January 1958. A monument to Small was established at a roundabout in the centre of Banjul.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
trade unionist and politician. The founder of the country's first trade union, he was the first Gambian to be directly elected to the legislative council or to be appointed to the executive council, and is widely regarded as the father of Gambian politics.
Biography
A member of the Aku ethnic group, Small was born in BathurstBanjul
-Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport...
(now Banjul) in 1891. He finished his education at the Methodist Boys High School in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, and in 1910 he began working at the school in Freetown, before returning to Bathurst to work as a teacher in 1915.
He joined the Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
mission and was sent to Ballanghar to serve as an agent. However, around eighteen months later, following a fight with a local trader over bell ringing, Small was instead sent to Sukuta
Sukuta
Sukuta is a town located in the Western Division of The Gambia. It had a population of 16,667 as of the 1993 census....
by PS Toys, chairman of the Gambia Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was later sacked by the church for openly criticising Toys. Alongside other Akus, Small founded the Gambia Native Defense Union (GNDU), which attacked the "blatant flaws in the administration of the central Government". He attended a conference in Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
in the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
in 1920, delivering a speech on the right of West Africans to self-rule. The result of the conference was the formation of the National Congress of British West Africa
National Congress of British West Africa
The National Congress of British West Africa , founded in 1920, was the earliest nationalist organization in West Africa, and one of the earliest formal organizations working toward African emancipation...
, with Small setting up a Gambian branch upon his return.
During the 1920s he established a newspaper, the Gambia Outlook and Senegambian Reporter, and in 1929, founded the country's first trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, the Bathurst Trade Union
Bathurst Trade Union
The Bathurst Trade Union was the first trade union organization in Bathurst, today Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. It was founded by Edward Francis Small in 1929, out of the Carpenters' and Shipwrights' Society. Small became the chairman of BTU. In October the same year the BTU was joined by...
, which in the same year organised the country's first strike. He went on to establish the Rate Payers' Association during the 1930s, which was the country's first quasi-political party and dominated local politics in the city, winning all six seats open to African candidates in the 1936 elections.
Between 1941 and 1947 Small represented Bathurst Municipal Council in the country's legislative council, first being appointed on 31 December 1941. In 1947 the country's first election
Gambian legislative election, 1947
An election for the one elected seat on the Legislative Council was held in the Gambia in 1947. It was the first time that the Council had had a directly elected representative....
was held for a single seat on the council. Backed by his union, Small was victorious, beating I.M. Garba Jahumpa (who went on to found the Muslim Congress Party
Muslim Congress Party
The Muslim Congress Party was a political party in the Gambia. The party was founded during the pre-independence period to represent the Muslim population in the colony of Bathurst . The party was led by I. Garba-Jahumpa...
) and Sheikh Omar Faye, and was appointed to the country's executive council on 11 December 1947. He was reappointed to the council again on 18 January 1951 and 12 June 1951.
He continued to be involved in politics until his death in January 1958. A monument to Small was established at a roundabout in the centre of Banjul.