Bai Koblo Pathbana II

Bai Koblo Pathbana II, CBE was a paramount chief and politician in Lunsar, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone. He was crowned the 43rd Paramount Chief of Marampa-Masimera Chiefdom in 1943.[2]

Bai Koblo Pathbana II
43rd Paramount Chief of Marampa
PredecessorBai Koblo Pathbana I
SuccessorAlie Koblo Queen Kabia II
Born22 September 1912
Marampa, Masimera Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
Died24 March 1998
Marampa, Masimera Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
Burial
Marampa, Masimera Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
SpouseParamount Chief Madam Ella Koblo Gulama, Hajah Yabome Koblo, and 14 more wives.
HousePathbana
ReligionCatholic
Koblo
Royal house
Parent familyKabia
CountrySierra Leone
Place of originMarampa, Masimera Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
FounderKekelay Kaba[1]
TitlesParamount Chief
Connected membersBai Koblo Pathbana II
Ella Koblo Gulama
Soccoh Kabia
Connected familiesGulama
TraditionsCatholic
HeirloomsStaff
Estate(s)Marampa, Masimera Chiefdom, Sierra Leone
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In 1946, he married Ella Gulama, the daughter of Julius Gulama, Paramount Chief of Kaiyamba District and ruler of the largest Mende chiefdom in Sierra Leone. Their marriage was a significant cross-tribal union marriage between an ethnic Temne and an ethnic Mende, the two most powerful clans in Sierra Leone.

Pathbana became a Cabinet Minister without Portfolio in the All People's Congress government led by Siaka Stevens in 1967. The post had been held by his wife Ella in the previous administration of Sir Albert Margai.[3]

He was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)in the 1969 New Year Honours.

Marriage and family

On 27 April, 1946 he married Ella Gulama in a grand ceremony in Moyamba.[2] Dr. Milton Margai spoke at the reception.[2][4]

At the time of their marriage Ella was a 25 year-old graduate of the Teacher's Training College in Freetown.[4] As she was both well educated and well travelled, Pathbana allowed her to accompany him to official functions.[4] As his Chief Consort, she created education opportunities for women and girls in the Masimera Chiefdom and became a popular figure.[4]

Together they had seven children but only three, Francis Obai Kabia, Soccoh Kabia and Jilo Kabia, survived into adulthood.[4] After several years, his wife returned to Moyamba, the seat of her father's chiefdom. She never returned to Pathbana and explaining that she was unhappy in the marriage.[2]

It is customary for Paramount Chief's in Sierra Leone practice polygamy, with their first spouse being a so-called "big wife" while the term "junior wife" is used to refer to their other spouses.[2] In addition to his marriage to Ella, Pathbana was married to 16 other women and had a great number children with them.[2]

Legacy

Further reading

References
  1. "The Chiefdoms of Sierra Leone - Harvard University - PDF Free Download". propertibazar.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  2. Day, L. (2 January 2012). Gender and Power in Sierra Leone: Women Chiefs of the Last Two Centuries. Springer. ISBN 9780230337923.
  3. Sierra Leone Powers Lost
  4. Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku; Niven, Mr Steven J. (2 February 2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. ISBN 9780195382075.
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