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Sir Milton Margai was first immortalized in
1964 on the ½ cent coin shortly after his death on April 28, one day after
celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the country’s independence. Fifty-five
years later, on 22 May 2019, he was once again immortalized in paint on the walls
outside the National Museum, under the towering Cotton Tree, in the hub of
Freetown. The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, unveiled the artistic
portraits of Sir Milton Margai and Dr. M.C.F. Easmon with the Chair of the
Monuments and Relics Commission and benefactor, Gary Schulze, a former Peace
Corp volunteer.
As the green, white and blue banners
fluttered in the afternoon breeze, the Mayor of Freetown said, “When visitors
and tourists come, they will wander the streets and see the history of our
country in painted portraits on these walls. The history and heroes of our
country need to be remembered and honoured and these portraits help bring our
history into focus.”
The artist, Alusine Bangura, said, “I’m a
portrait specialist, among many artistic talents, and these portraits are
important to preserve our heritage and culture.” He described his creative
process as “more than a photograph”. The portraits of Sir Margai and Dr. Easmon
are his fifth and sixth portrait in the series of national, historic portraits
that can be seen along Pademba Road and at the Big Market.
Charlie Haffner, of the Monuments and
Relics Commission, said, “The culture and history of Sierra Leone is incredibly
rich and varied. These founding fathers, painted here, are symbolic of the
greatness from whence we’ve come and provide a model for where we want to be.”
The portraits are colourful renditions of
rare black and white photographs and appear alongside plaques that pay tribute
to the notable characters.
Milton Augustus Margai was born on 7
December 1895, in the Moyamba District, and studied in Bonthe and later at the
Albert Academy in Freetown. In
1921, he obtained his B.A. degree from Fourah Bay College, as the first
Protectorate man to graduate. He then went to Britain where he obtained an M.A.
degree and studied medicine at King's College, Durham, graduating in 1926 as
the first Protectorate many to qualify as a medical doctor.
In1950, Margai retired
from government medical service and became an active
member of the Protectorate Educational Progressive Union (PEPU) which later
merged with the Sierra Leone Organisation Society (SOS) to form the Sierra
Leone People's Party (SLPP) of which he became the first national chairman.
In 1961, Margai oversaw Sierra Leone's
transition to independence. Dr. Margai was the founder
of the first Protectorate newspaper (the Sierra Leone Observer), Sierra Leone's
first Chief Minister and then first Prime Minister. He died in office aged 68, and was
succeeded as prime minister by his brother, Albert.
Margai was Prime Minister on the eve of
Sierra Leone’s Independence in 1961 and famously said, “…The aim will certainly be to
make our country a land worth living in, a land worth serving; but this can
only be done by wholehearted service and hard work now… I ask you to deal
fairly and honestly with your fellow men, to discourage lawlessness, and to
strive actively for peace, friendship and unity in our country.
“…We
are now in complete control of our destiny and for the formulation of our
external as well as our internal policies. I wish you all to be assured
that we in Sierra Leone will stand for the freedom and prosperity of men
everywhere.”
Gary
Schulze, an honourary Paramount Chief and recipient of a national medal,
commissioned the paintings and worked closely with Bangura, the artist. He
said, “These men are historic and we should always remember them as heroes.
These portraits are gifts to the people of Sierra Leone.”
Dr. McCormack Charles Farrell Easmon was born
in Ghana to a prominent Krio doctor. He came to Sierra Leone and attended the
CMS Grammar School in Freetown. He attended Epsom College in Surrey and, after
graduating in 1907, was awarded scholarships to study medicine at the Medical
School of St. Mary’s Hospital in London. He qualified in medicine and surgery
in 1912, and the following year passed the examination of the London School of
Tropical Medicine.
M.C.F. Easmon retired from the medical field
in 1945, an
In 1947, he became the first chairman of the
Monuments and Relics Commission, and presided over the official declaration of
many national historic sites. He spearheaded the founding of the Sierra Leone
Museum in 1957 and became its first curator, working untiringly to acquire
worthy exhibits for the museum and to set up attractive displays. He also hosted
a popular radio programme called “Sierra Leone in Retrospect”. In 1954, Easmon
was awarded the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.). Dr. M.C.F. Easmon fell
ill and died while on holiday in England in 1969.
(L-R) Charlie Haffner, Chair, Monuments and Relics Commission, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and benefactor, Gary Schulze, former Peace Corp volunteer (1960s)
Renowned artist and former prison guard, Alusine Bangura
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr cutting the ribbon to unveil portrait
Portrait of Dr. MCF Easmon
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