Jeanne Martin Cissé was a Guinean teacher and nationalist politician. Cissé was born on April 6, 1926 to Darricau Martin Cissé and Damaye Soumah in Kankan, Guinea. She attended the Ecole Normale de Rufisque, a teacher-training institute for women in Dakar, Senegal, where she trained … Read MoreJeanne Martin Cissé (1926-2017)
Nora Holt was an important figure in the history of Black music in Chicago in the 1930s and was a noted musician, composer, and renowned singer and performer during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1940s. While employed as a music critic for the Chicago Defender … Read MoreNora Holt (1885–1974)
Dr. Lisa DeNell Cook is an economist and a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. She is the first African American woman to sit on the Board. Cook was born in 1964 and raised in Milledgeville, Georgia. She is one of three daughters of … Read MoreLisa D. Cook (1964- )
Mohamed Bazoum was sworn in as the president of Niger on April 2, 2021. Bazoum was born on January 1, 1960, at Bilabrine, Cercle N’guigme in Niger. His family were members of the Diffa Arab minority. He attended local schools in Niger. He then studied … Read MoreMohamed Bazoum
(1960- )
Macky Sall, the fourth and current president of Senegal, was born on December 1, 1961, in Fatick, Senegal to Amadou Abdoul Sall and his wife, Coumba Thimbo. Fatick is a town in central Senegal where most people speak Wolof or Serer but his parents are … Read MoreMacky Sall (1961- )
On October 1, 2021, Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as the interim president of Guinea. This was after the former president, Alpha Conde, was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by Doumbouya on September 5, 2021. Mamady Doumbouya was born in Kankan, Guinea on March 4, … Read MoreMamady Doumbouya (1980- )
Moktar Ould Daddah was the first president of independent Mauritania. He was born on December 25, 1924, at Boutilimit, Mauritania, French West Africa. His parents were Muhammadun Ould Daddah and Khadijattou Mahmoul Brahim. He was descended from a family of Muslim religious scholars and political … Read MoreMoktar Ould Daddah (1924-2003)
Dawda (David) Jawara was the first Head of State of independent Gambia. He was born on May 16, 1924, at Barajally, MacCarthy Island, The Gambia (then a colony of Great Britain). His parents were Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara, a prominent trader in the colony. … Read MoreDawda Kairaba Jawara (1924-2019)
Hubert Maga was the first president of Dahomey (Benin). He was born on August 10, 1916 in Parakou a city in northern Dahomey then a French colony and attended local primary schools in Parakou. He later attended the prestigious school Normale William Ponty in Dakar, … Read MoreHubert Maga (1916-2000)
Modibo Keita, the first President of Mali, was born on June 4, 1915, in Bamako-Coura, Upper Senegal and Niger (current Mali). He was the son of Daba Keita and Fatoumata Camara. His family claimed direct descent from Sundiata Keita the first ruler of the Mali … Read MoreModibo Keita (1915-1977)
