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Hundreds of mourners on Saturday, May 9, 2026, gathered in Freetown to observe Islamic funeral prayers for Haja Mariama Jalloh Fofana, widely recognized as the first Fullah woman to attend Fourah Bay College, who died on Thursday at the age of 83.
Family members, women’s rights advocates, community leaders, and members of the Fullah Progressive Union joined relatives and sympathizers to pay tribute to a woman many described as a pioneer for women’s education and empowerment in Sierra Leone.
According to accounts shared during the funeral ceremony, Haja Mariama Jalloh Fofana attended Fourah Bay College in the 1960s at a time when it was uncommon for Fullah girls to pursue higher education.
Speakers at the ceremony said her enrollment at the institution broke cultural and social barriers that had limited educational opportunities for many young women, particularly within conservative communities.
Mourners described her as a trailblazer who challenged both tribal and gender limitations through education and public service. After completing her studies, she worked briefly as a teacher before moving into other professional and social advocacy roles that allowed her to support women and girls across the country.
Haja Mariama was also remembered for her involvement in women’s political participation and social development initiatives. She was one of the founding members of the women’s advocacy organization 50/50 and later became its third president, where colleagues said she made significant contributions toward women’s empowerment and representation.
She additionally served as a founding member of the Fullah Progressive Union and held the position of Vice Chair of the organization’s National Advisory Council.
Tributes delivered during the funeral highlighted her ability to balance modern education, Islamic values, and Fullah cultural traditions throughout her life. Several speakers described her as educated, cultured, and deeply committed to preserving her identity while advocating for progress and inclusion.
A close associate who spoke during the funeral recalled that Haja Mariama recently reached out following a fire incident at his office to offer prayers and support, adding that she had promised to visit before her passing.
“She was indeed a mother, a woman of grace and candor, who laid a solid foundation for generations of women who came after her,” the associate said during the tribute.
Following funeral prayers in Freetown, her body was taken for burial beside her late husband in a village in Tonkolili District.
Prayers were offered for Allah’s mercy on her soul as mourners bid farewell to one of Sierra Leone’s prominent female figures whose legacy in education, women’s empowerment, and community leadership continues to inspire many across the country.
