Hannah Benka-Coker
Hannah Benka-Coker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hannah R Luke 1903 |
| Died | 17 June 1952 |
| Alma mater | Portway Institute in England |
| Known for | A founder of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls |
| Spouse | S A Benka-Coker |
| Children | 2 |
Hannah Benka-Coker, MBE, née Luke (1903 – 17 June 1952)[1] was an educator from Sierra Leone. She was one of the founders of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) which was established in 1926.[2]
Personal life and education
[edit]Born Hannah R Luke to Creole parents in British Sierra Leone, she was educated at the Annie Walsh Memorial School in Sierra Leone and Portway Institute in England.[3] She married Justice S A Benka-Coker from the Gambia.[4] She died in June 1952,[5] aged 49.[6]
Freetown Secondary School for Girls
[edit]She organized a group of close family members and friends to plan a school that would offer a comprehensive, world-class education program for girls.[3] One of her friends was Maisie Osora, the British wife of a Sierra Leonean clergyman, who was a teacher at the Annie Walsh Memorial School.[3]
On 20 January 1926, the Freetown Secondary School for Girls opened at Garrison and Gloucester Streets with a student body of twenty girls.[3] Osora was principal and Benka-Coker was as vice-principal.[3]
The Freetown School for Girls was the only school that had classes from Kindergarten through Secondary School.[3]
Eventually, Hannah became the school principal.[3] During her tenure she accepted students from all over West Africa regardless of creed or tribe.[3] The school moved to Tower Hill in Freetown and became a boarding school.[3] Students flocked from The Gambia, The Gold Coast and Nigeria.[3]
In 1944, Benka-Coker was awarded an MBE for her services to education.[7]
Girl Guides
[edit]Benka-Coker was a member of the Girl Guide movement for over twenty years. Roles included commissioner for Sierra Leone Girl Guides and the first Africa Colony commissioner.[8]
Other
[edit]Benka-Coker was president of both the Sierra Leone Women's Movement and the Annie Walsh Old Girls Association.[9]
Legacy
[edit]Her contributions to the education of girls and women were lauded in Sierra Leone and internationally.[10]
Benka-Coker has since had a statue erected in her honour.[11]
See also
[edit]- Women in Sierra Leone
- Index of Sierra Leone–related articles
- George Beresford-Stooke
- Annie Walsh Memorial School
References
[edit]- ^ "Our History" Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, FSSG Ex-Pupils Association UK.
- ^ "Federal Aid said needed in South for education". Daily Press. Virginia, USA. 1950-11-10. p. 20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The History of Our School". 2013-12-03. Archived from the original on 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
- ^ "Noted African lady passes". Atlanta Daily World. Georgia, USA. 1952-07-30. p. 4.
- ^ Constance Agatha Cummings-John (1995). Memoirs of a Krio Leader. Sam Bookman for Humanities Research Centre. p. 95. ISBN 978-978-2165-51-0. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- ^ "Noted African Lady Passes" Archived 2015-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, Memphis World, 25 July 1952.
- ^ Hadi Bah, "Once out of sight, Sierra Leone’s heroes, historical figures, are out of mind too", Sierra Leone 365.
- ^ "In memoriam". The Guider (Vol. XXXIX No. 9 ed.). London, UK: Girl Guides Association. September 1952. p. 195.
- ^ "Noted African lady passes". Atlanta Daily World. Georgia, USA. 1952-07-30. p. 4.
- ^ Johnson, Alex C. (8 November 2005). Mac Dixon-Fyle, Gibril Raschid Cole (ed.). New perspectives on the Sierra Leone Krio. Peter Lang. p. 271. ISBN 978-0820479378.
- ^ Hafkin, Nancy Jane (30 June 1976). Edna G. Bay (ed.). Women in Africa: Studies in Social and Economic Change. Stanford University Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-0804710114.
