Julius Gulama

Julius Momoh Gulama (born Julius Foday Cole, 1893 – 8 March 1951) was a Sierra Leonean paramount chief, statesman and educator in the preindependence era.[1][2] As paramount chief of Kaiyamba Chiefdom, he ruled the largest and most powerful Mende chiefdom in the Sierra Leone.

Julis Momoh Gulama
Paramount Chief of Kaiyamba Chiefdom, Moyamba District
Reign1928–1951
PredecessorParamount Chief Momoh Gulama
SuccessorElla Koblo Gulama
Born1893
Moyamba, British Sierra Leone
Died8 March 1951(1951-03-08) (aged 57–58)
Moyamba, Sierra Leone
Burial
Moyamba, Sierra Leone
SpouseMadam Lucy
IssueSamuel, Ella, Komeh
Messie, Yebu
HouseGulama
FatherParamount Chief Momoh Gulama
MotherChief Consort Talla Gulama

Gulama was a founding member of two key organizations that worked towards independence for Sierra Leone: the Protectorate Educational Progressive Union (PEPU) and the Sierra Leone Organizational Society (SOS). When Sierra Leone became independent, both organizations merged to form the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).[2]

He was the father of Ella Koblo Gulama and Komeh Gulama Lansana.[2]

Early life and education

He was born Julius Foday Cole in Moyamba, Moyamba District in the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone to Mende Paramount Chief Momoh Gulama of Kaiyamba Chiefdom and Talla, his Temne wife.[3][4]

He received his primary school education at the EUB School at Rotifunk and graduated secondary school at Albert Academy in Freetown.[3]

Heir presumptive

It was understood in Moyamba that he would one day succeed his father Momoh Gulama as paramount chief.[1]

Prior to his reign, he taught at Harford School for Girls in Moyamba.[2] He also worked as a ticket master for the Sierra Leone Railway Department and was a clerk in the Kamerun Campaign during World War I and a clerk at the Peterson Zochonis firm in Moyamba.[2]

Reign

His reign as paramount chief of Kaiyamba Chiefdom began in 1928.[2] He assumed the regnal name "Julius Momoh Gulama".[2]

Gulama is regarded as one of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of Sierra Leone.[5]

The Sierra Leone Organization Society

Gulama was a founding member of the Sierra Leone Organization Society (SOS), a political association formed with the aim of achieving independence for Sierra Leone.[3] The association consisted of a group of educated protectorate Sierra Leoneans including John Karefa-Smart, Siaka Stevens, J.D.Manley and Doyle Sumner.[3]

Sierra Leone People's Party

In 1951, the Sierra Leone Organization Society (SOS) united with the Protectorate Educational Progressive Union (PEPU) to form the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).[3] Gulama was a founding member of the new political party.[3]

It was chaired by Sir Milton Margai and the deputy leader was Chief Bai Farima Tass II.[3]

Public perception and character

Gulama is regarded as one of the Founding Fathers and Mothers of Sierra Leone.[5]

His reign was distinguished by his efforts to unite Sierra Leoneans of all ethnic groups together. He was a passionate advocate of education in Sierra Leone and he helped establish the Bo Government School.[2]

Issue
NameBirthDeathSpouseChildren
Samuel GulamaunknownunknownunknownFoday Momoh Gulama
Ella Koblo Gulama26 January 192110 September 2006Paramount Chief Bai Koblo Pathbana IIFrancis Obai Kabia
Soccoh Kabia
Didi Kabia
Sheku
Gilo
+ 2
Komeh Gulama LansanaunknownunknownBrigadier David LansanaSheku Lansana
Judy J. L. Rogers
Tala Lansana
Foday Lansana
Kornya Lansana
Messy Gulamaunknownunknownunknownunknown
Yebu Gulamaunknownunknownunknownunknown

Marriage and family

Gulama was married to Lucy and had three children Samuel, Ella and Komeh. It is the tradition of paramount chief's in Sierra Leone to practice polygamy and have so-called "junior" wives. From Gulama's junior wife, Lunia, he fathered two more daughters Messy and Yebu.

Gulama was progressive and supported gender equality.[6][7] He promoted education for women and girls in his chiefdom and led by example by having his daughter Ella accompany him to the Council of Chiefs and Protectorate Assembly Meetings.[7]

Ancestry

Further reading
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References
  1. Lucan, Talabi Aisie (April 2004). "The life and times of paramount chief Madam Ella Koblo Gulama". SLAWI. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  2. Fyle, Magbaily C. (2006-03-27). Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone. Scarecrow Press. p. 63. Retrieved 2018-07-14. %22julius%20gulama%22.
  3. Political Parties and National Integration in Tropical Africa. University of California Press. 1964. p. 97. Retrieved 2018-07-14. julius%20gulama%20sierra%20leone%20people%20party.
  4. Ranso, Brian H. A. (1968). "A sociological study of Moyamba Town, Sierra Leone". Ahmadu Bello University. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  5. "An open letter to the founding fathers and mothers of the SLPP". Sierra Leone Telegraph. 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  6. Vanguard, The Patriotic (2012-12-12). "One Country, One People?". The Patriotic Vanguard. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  7. Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Niven, Mr Steven J. (2012-02-02). "Dictionary of African Biography". OUP USA. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  8. Cahoon, Ben. "Sierra Leone Traditional States". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
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