26 Facts About Albert Margai

Albert Margai was the father of Sierra Leonean politician Charles Margai.

Albert Margai was born in Gbangbatoke, Banta Chiefdom, in what is the Moyamba District, Freetown.

Albert Margai received a Roman Catholic education at St Edward's Primary School and went on to be one of the first group of students to attend St Edward's Secondary School.

Albert Margai became a registered nurse and this was his occupation from 1931 to 1944.

Albert Margai later travelled to England and read law at the Inner Temple Inns of Court, where he qualified in 1948.

Albert Margai was elected first Protectorate Member to the Legislative Council in 1951.

Albert Margai served as Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone in Milton's government after 1962, where he held positions alternatively in Education, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

Albert Margai was a founding member of the Sierra Leone National Party, which was formed in 1949 to advocate and aid in the transition to independence for the country.

However, in the years leading up to independence, Albert Margai was allied more closely with Siaka Stevens than his brother.

Albert Margai took leadership of the Sierra Leone People's Party in 1957, but stepped down to form the People's National Party with Stevens.

Albert Margai openly asked traditional rulers to stay out of politics.

Albert Margai was one of a number of leaders who attempted to remove the system of democratic governance enshrined in multi-party democracy as he believed that this would encourage politicians to accentuate the ethnic differences within the state and therefore threaten the viability of Sierra Leone as a country.

Albert's brother, Sir Milton Margai was appointed first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.

At the time, Albert Margai was serving as a member of parliament for Moyamba.

Albert Margai was appointed Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone in 1962.

In 1964, Albert Margai changed Sierra Leone's currency from the British West African pound to the leone, a decimal legal tender roughly equivalent to half a pound sterling at the time.

Albert Margai founded the Bank of Sierra Leone and made it the national central bank.

Sir Albert Margai was made Prime Minister on 29 April 1964.

Albert Margai had a penchant for extravagant pageantry and was accused of corruption and of a policy of affirmative action in favor of the Mende tribe.

Sir Albert Margai took power and sought to make the army homogeneously Mende.

Albert Margai endeavoured to change Sierra Leone from a democracy to a one-party state.

Albert Margai was against any candidates from the opposition running against candidates from his own party.

Albert Margai refused to dignify accusation of corruption with a response.

Albert Margai declared martial law, dismissed the election results and proclaimed himself the interim Governor-General.

The so-called Sergeants' Coup was led by Lieutenant Colonel Ambrose Patrick Genda who Albert Margai had fired in 1967.

Albert Margai is survived by his son, politician Charles Margai.