By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
In every community, there are men whose presence feels like a prayer whispered over generations, whose actions stand like pillars holding up the dignity of an entire people. Among the Fula of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah has become one of those rare steady pillars. His name now travels beyond homes, mosques, households and marketplaces and walks confidently into the heart of our community’s aspirations. He is not simply admired. He is trusted. And he is trusted because his actions speak the loudest language of sincerity.
Education has always been the open door through which a people rise, yet too often it is the door that remains shut for many Fula children. Some lack the means, others lack encouragement, and many lack someone to tell them that the greatness they dream of is not too far for their hands to reach. Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah has become that voice of reassurance. His recent donation of one hundred thousand new Leones to support Fula student organisations is more than philanthropy. It is a declaration of purpose. It is a message that the time for transformation is now.
When I think of this act of generosity, my mind goes back to two memories from my own childhood. The first is of my father, Alhaji Abdulai Jalloh, standing beside me on the day I was first introduced to the Holy Quran. As the Holy Quran was recited and prayers were offered for my future, his hand rested gently on my shoulder. That moment, so simple, so soft, was the moment I first felt the weight and beauty of responsibility. It taught me that education was not only a pathway. It was a prayer carried on the breath of those who love us.
The second memory is of the man we celebrate today, Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah himself. He was educated through the Holy Quran, not through Western schooling, yet his love for education was deeper than that of many who carry academic titles. His education lived in the verses he memorised, the discipline that shaped his character, and the wisdom that flowed from his heart. And despite not attending formal school, he valued education so passionately that one could easily convince him to give his last coin if it meant a child could go to school. He guided many young ones in the recitation and understanding of the Holy Quran, teaching them patience, humility, clarity and purpose. His life has been a living classroom, a silent curriculum for all who observe him. His belief has always been simple: A child with knowledge is a blessing that grows even when we are gone.
“Leadership is not measured by how loud a man speaks, but by how deeply his actions shape the lives of others.” – Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah
This is not only a quote. It is a roadmap. It is the declaration of the path he wishes the Fula community to walk. And how timely it is. Our people need leaders whose hearts beat for the children of the next generation, leaders whose contributions are not wrapped in politics or ego but in genuine love for community upliftment.
Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah now stands in the line of great Fula giants whose footsteps continue to shape our identity and progress. Men like Almamy Bah Alhaji Chewtor Alhaji Adama Sarjor Alhaji Baba Alie Alhaji Alimu Bah, the former Imam Alhaji Mamadu Alpha Bah Alhaji Texaco Bah and many others who lived with humility, walked with honour and believed in uplifting their people quietly but powerfully. These were men who built bridges where others saw walls, who gave dignity where others made excuses, and who inspired hope not by speaking loudly but by acting boldly.
Through his generosity and his vision for our youth, Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah has now raised the standard for our present leaders. His actions call upon men such as Alhaji Mohamed Sarjor Jalloh, the current Fula Tribal Head and Chairman of all Fula Tribal Heads, Alhaji Juldeh Sow, President of Tabitaal Pulaaku, Alhaji Umaru Sanu Barrie, and other leaders and stakeholders across the country. The call is not to match his donation but to match his spirit. The Fula community needs leadership that pours from the heart, not only from the pocket. It needs guidance born from sincerity, not ceremony.
Education is the true battleground of the future. It is where poverty is defeated, where identity is strengthened and where dignity is restored. When a Fula child becomes a doctor, an engineer, a diplomat, an academic, a business leader, a scientist or a respected voice in society, the entire community rises with them. And when men like Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah create opportunities that push these children forward, they are not merely helping individuals. They are reshaping our destiny.
“Building peace is not a race but a marathon,” said Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah
These words echo across every initiative he undertakes. Patience, consistency and vision are the hallmarks of his leadership. He understands that change does not happen overnight and that the best results come from steady nurturing and faith in the next generation.
Jaanen Bhibhemen Wonii worbe Woni jiwbe. Let us educate our children, whether boys or girls. Today, these words feel more alive than they ever have. They remind us that every child we support becomes a candle lit against the darkness of ignorance. Every scholarship, every encouragement, every push toward success is a brick laid on the road of progress.
This piece is not written simply to praise a single act of generosity. It is written to recognise the birth of a movement, a movement in which Fula leaders take responsibility for the intellectual future of our children, a movement in which giving becomes culture, not an event, a movement in which leadership is duty, not title.
May Almighty Allah bless Alhaji Umaru Monoma Bah. May his generosity inspire a thousand more acts like it. And may the Fula community rise not by chance but through the strength of men like him who plant seeds so that others may harvest.
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