PONDER MY THOUGHTS BY Andrew Keili REMINESCING ON “SWEET BO” I wrote a piece a few weeks ago on Pa Jarrett of Bo that has generated so much nostalgia and in a few cases anger amongst people from Bo that I have decided to write another one. Some were angry with me for leaving so much out. One friend remarked: Thank you Mr. Keili for reminding me about the good old days. The history of Bo cannot however be complete without a mention of many of the notable individuals and families that have made Bo what it is today. A friend from Bo who is a cognoscenti of the city and has always literally worshipped Bo remarked: A history of Bo, without a mention of the fact that we at one time had the best football team in the country, with no mention of Cokorioko and Amigo? Bo you nor try sef. Well, in fairness to me, this was not meant to be a history of Bo. I merely mentioned a few tit bits about Bo in my attempt to give a eulogy for the late Pa Jarrett. Indeed the history of Bo cannot be written in a few pages. I will attempt to delve a little bit more into the rich history of this enviable city, whilst apologising at the very onset that I will obviously leave so much out. The municipality of Bo had a population of 149,957 in the 2004 census, a 2010 estimate of 215,474,and a current estimate of 300,000. The city of Bo has obviously grown in leaps and bounds, much beyond what it was in the 60s and 70s when I was an inhabitant. Bo is described thus in one piece: The inhabitants of Bo are known for their resolve, resistance and hospitality. The town was named after its generosity. An elephant was killed close to what is now known as Bo Parking Ground. People from the surrounding villages came to receive their share. Because the meat was so large, the hunter spent days distributing it and the words Bo- lor (which in Mende language means this is yours, with reference to the meat) was said so much that the elders and visitors decided to name the place Bo. Bo-lor in Mende also translates to this is Bo. Anyone who has been associated with Bo would know that the resolve, resistance and hospitality of the people of Bo are aptly described in the piece. Information from some of my friends prodded my memory on many notable individuals and families in Bo. They include Alhaji M.B. Ibrahim of the Ahmadiyya Mission, Pa Soya Bongay, Pa Bagwan, the Indian merchant, the Koubassies, Pa Nahas, the mechanic, Pa Boima of Sambo Street, Sidie Mambay, the diamond magnate, the Moribas of Moriba Town (owners of that section of Bo), the Kebbies of Goma Street, the Zorokongs of Sewa Rd, Prophet Fofana of Sewa Rd, the Lebbies of Prince Williams Street, the Ali Bakers- Pa Ali supplied Bo school bread for many years, Pa Kamara Butcher, Pa F.S. Anthony and family, the Lagawos, etc. One should not also forget the infamous like Kindo the notorious thief. Indeed the list goes on. A friend of mine related to me how his Dad, Dispenser Kebbie got Pa Puvanday To work for Pa Jarrett. During the mid 70s, Pa Jarret asked my dad to come and work with him. My dad told him that it was not possible because he was now running his own private clinic at Yamandu. However, dad recommended his cousin at the Segbwema Hospital, Uncle Puvanday. He came over and worked with him for several years until his death few years ago. So many people came to enrich the history of this city from far flung out places purely by happenstance. How can you leave Khalil Garmem (KG) of Bojong Street out of the history of Bo? He came to Bo via Mandu and touched the lives of so many people. His hospitality to countless students is the stuff of legends. Or old meh Menjor of Black & White. What about Prince Forde and Mami Nicholas. Prince Forde, a native of Freetown did so much to enrich the social, business and political life in the city. The avuncular W.C.Coker, son of W.B.Coker ran his bar at the junction of Fenton road and Damballa road in a famous wooden building that is akin to those found in western cowboy films. Incidentally another famous person from Bo, Najib Berri, former speaker of the Lebanese parliament lived in that building. Many famous businessmen now gracing the business scene in Freetown had their early days in Bo. These include Hajj Fawaz, the ubiquitous businessman and Daklala, the transport and estate magnate. The history of Bo cannot even be attempted if you do not include two of the notable institutions in this city that have touched the lives of so many people from all angles of this country- Bo school and Bunumbu press. Bo school was founded in 1906 by British educationist Leslie Probyn. It is sited on 13.5 acres (55,000 m2) of land in the heart of Bo Town- Contrary to what detractors may say, this is not wasted space! At the opening ceremony, there were many prominent people, including Paramount Chief Madam Yoko of Moyamba, Chief Baimba Hotagua of Bo and Chief Sandy of Tikonko representing the Mende land, and Chief Ibrahim Sanda representing Temne land. I have always wondered about the origin of the names of their dormitories, named after major European cities. This is described in one writing: The pupils’ quarters comprised four groups of huts, two groups for the Mendes and the other two for the Temnes. The four groups of huts were given names by the pupils themselves after large cities in Britain and Europe. The largest group of huts was called London, the second Liverpool, the third Paris and the fourth Berlin. Berlin was however renamed Manchester in 1914 after the outbreak of the First World War in token manifestation of school boy patriotism. London, Manchester, Paris and Liverpool for Mende and Temne boys? Many of these boys have held high positions in government and still continue to do. Their bonding to their alma mater is immeasurable, and has done a lot for national cohesiveness. You cannot however mention Bo school in the 60s and 70s without mentioning Sheik Imam Sesay, its principal, commonly known as Uncle Sheik and later Festus Seiwoh. The Bunumbu Printing Press which had begun in a small way in Bunumbu in the 1920s had moved in the 1930s to Bo which was a more central location and had electricity. The Commonwealth Fund gave £ 25,000 for development of the Bunumbu Press Building and for staff houses. Illiteracy was widespread in the country and the workers at the Printing Press were committed to translating and publishing literacy materials and primers in indigenous languages of Kono, Mende, Loko, Themne, Limba, Mandinka and Krio. A monthly four page newspaper in both Mende and Themne provided new readers with reading material that was fresh and relevant. These new ventures proved massively popular (called Semei Lokoi in Mende and A kera kaka Themne). And the social scene? Move over Freetown! Bo had no rival. Samir Koubassie , impressario and owner of the famous Super Kombo band was based in Bo. He was tragically killed by an elephant. Just ask the countless people who trooped to Bo during those days about Kokorioko, Marshall, Demby Hotel, Uptown Disco and my favourite Amigos. Amigos, run by Sallah, played the best music that kept everyone on the dance floor. Oh, what about tall Sawyerr my friend. He was a colourful character who graced the social scene in Bo as an impresario. Last time I saw him he wants to return to Bo, albeit in a religious capacity. My friend Dizzo Kamara himself a famous BTB who loves Bo so much that he retired there reminds me that the Bo District team was the first Provincial team to win the FA cup. He was part of that team as were Kendeka and Possible Deen. This was a team that could beat the national team at that time. I cannot complete this brief history if dont mention Odeon Cinema. Move over Rex Cinema! For me Odeon on Kissy town road was the best. Those Indian films still linger in my mind. It was only recently that my favourite Actor, Dara Singh (or was that his name?) died. During those days all we cared about in a film was to know who was the actor and who was the bad man. If you could not hear well, side commentaries by the servicemen around would enlighten you. They even commented on what was going to happen next. I recall one particular film in which the sound was not in sync with the action because of some malfunction. Dara Singh reined several blows on the bad man with no sound until a few minutes later when there were repeated thumping sounds. Dat na de blow way Dara Singh blow am, one serviceman remarked. And what about Pa Taylor, the gateman? For those who could not afford to buy a ticket, you could take a chance at yekking Pa Taylor in a group. In his attempt to reach out for one intruder, you could slip underneath his arm and ensconce yourself quietly in the dark cinema room. A friend of mine who was unlucky to be apprehended by Pa Taylor has been seeing his dentist regularly all his life. This is going to disappoint a few but I must end this brief history here... For now! Ponder my thoughts!
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 18:13:34 +0000
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