35 Facts About Milton Margai

Milton Margai was titled chief minister from 1954 to 1960, and then prime minister from 1961 onwards.

Milton Margai entered politics as the founder and inaugural leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party.

Milton Margai oversaw Sierra Leone's transition to independence, which occurred in 1961.

Milton Margai died in office aged 68, and was succeeded as prime minister by his brother Albert.

Milton Margai enjoyed the support of Sierra Leoneans across classes, who respected his moderate style, friendly demeanor, and political savvy.

Milton Augustus Strieby Margai was born on 7 December 1895 in the village of Gbangbatoke, Moyamba District, in the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone to Mende parents.

Milton Margai received his primary education at the Evangelical United Brethren School in Bonthe, Bonthe District.

In 1921, Milton Margai earned his bachelor's degree in history from Fourah Bay College.

Milton Margai went to medical school in England and graduated as a medical doctor from the Durham University College of Medicine in 1926.

Milton Margai was the first protectorate man to become a medical doctor.

Milton Margai returned to Sierra Leone in 1928 after earning his medical degree and enjoyed an exceptional career in the Colonial Medical Service.

Milton Margai served in 11 of 12 districts in the protectorate.

Milton Margai waged informational campaigns on social welfare and hygiene.

Milton Margai trained health care workers to instruct female community leaders in the Mende women's religion, the Sande.

In 1948, Milton Margai wrote an article for African Affairs entitled "Welfare Work in a Secret Society," in which he discusses his successes in establishing a series of training camps which taught hygiene and domestic skills to young female Sande initiates.

Milton Margai trained midwives and was the author of an instruction manual on midwifery in the Mende language.

The women whom Milton Margai trained became known as "Mamma Nurses", and were respected for their prowess in midwifery due to Milton Margai's training.

In 1951, Milton Margai founded the nationalist Sierra Leone People's Party with Siaka Stevens, which won the 1951 election to the Legislative Council.

In 1951, Milton Margai oversaw the drafting of a new constitution which triggered the process of decolonisation.

In 1953, Sierra Leone was granted local ministerial powers and Milton Margai was made Chief Minister.

Milton Margai led the Sierra Leonean delegation at the constitutional conferences that were held with British Colonial Secretary Iain Macleod in London in 1960.

On 27 April 1961, Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to independence from the United Kingdom.

The nation held its first general elections on 27 May 1962 and Milton Margai was elected Sierra Leone's first Prime Minister by a landslide.

Milton Margai then sought to heal divides between Sierra Leone's ethnic groups, as several northern ethnic groups felt underrepresented in the SLPP.

In large part, Milton Margai sought to unite the country and build a sense of national identity while becoming a member of the British Commonwealth.

Milton Margai sought good relations with the British government after independence.

Milton Margai garnered support from local chiefs, who wielded significant social power at the time, because they respected the work he had done to achieve independence for the country.

However, Milton Margai faced criticism for suppressing the political activities of the All People's Congress, Sierra Leone's opposition political party.

Milton Margai focused heavily on modernisation, particularly in the areas of education, health, and agriculture.

Milton Margai allowed local councils and governments to spearhead many improvement projects, but they were ultimately accountable to the central government, and Milton Margai sometimes withheld funding from councils controlled by the opposition party.

When Milton Margai became Prime Minister, he left control of the Sierra Leonean national army in the hands of the British.

Once Milton Margai died his brother Sir Albert Milton Margai took power and sought to make the army homogeneously Mende.

Milton Margai struggled to handle issues of illegal immigration of the Fula people from Guinea.

Milton Margai was one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a world constitution.

In 1961, Milton Margai appealed for funding to build a school for the blind in Freetown.