Augusta Jawara

Hannah Augusta Jawara ( MAY 1924 in Bathurst, † January 21, 1981 in London) was a midwife, women's rights activist and politician in the West African British colony of Gambia. She became famous as the first First Lady of President Dawda Jawara.

Life

Jawara, a Christian Aku, was one of three daughters of Sir John Mahoney, the first Speaker of the Legislative Council in the then colony of Gambia. After her schooling, she worked from 1942 to 1946 as a nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Bathurst. She then studied until 1952 at the Bristol Royal Infirmary ( UK ) Medicine and earned a Certificate in Midwifery (English State Registered Nurse ( SRN ) ). After obtaining her diploma in obstetrics complete, she returned to Gambia and took up a job of government in the Basse Health Centre. Through their work, they distinguished himself and was promoted and later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

During this time in Basse Santa Su, she learned Dawda Jawara, an official state veterinarian and former classmates know, and married him in Basse in February 1955. 's Marriage was after Methodist faith, Jawara recently converted to Christianity. Although she had given up her work as a midwife because of the marriage, she was instrumental in the 1962 founding of the Gambia School of Nursing.

The marriage with five children, was divorced in 1967. Previously, there was litigation in Bathurst and London to the custody of the youngest son. Henceforth Augusta Jawara was staying still in London and worked as a midwife. She died in January 1981.

Political life

On her husband's side, who later became leader of the Protectorate People's Party (PPP ), she became involved in politics. In the parliamentary elections in 1960 came as a candidate Augusta (PPP ) in the constituency Soldierstown in Bathurst. As the first female candidate in parliamentary elections in Gambia they could not prevail against her rival candidates Melvin B. Jones and defeated. At her husband, who was Prime Minister in 1962 page, she played an active role in politics.

Scripture Generic interaction

Jawara was known that she wrote several plays. Among Master Brain (according to another source, The African King) that was listed in 1966 on the Black Arts Festival in Dakar.