Fatou Khan, also Fatu or Fatoo (c.1880 - c.1940) was a Gambian administrator, who was an unofficial commissioner of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate.
Khan was born circa 1880 in Njau Village in the Upper Saloum District of the Gambia and was of Wolof ethnicity.[1] Little is known of her early life, other than she married for the first time circa 1900, but divorced him ten years later.[1] In 1910 she married according to Sharia marriage rites for a second time, on this occasion to the British Travelling Commissioner of the North Bank province, one J K McCallum.[1] Khan taught her husband Wolof, a language for which he later wrote a grammar and dictionary.[1] Throughout their marriage, McCallum increasingly relied on Khan to undertake his duties for him, which included collecting taxes and protecting her relatives from colonial authorities, such as her uncle, Chief Sawalo Sise.[1] Often McCallum was reduced to signing letters that she had already drafted with the help of interpreters.[2] He also, supposedly, taught her how to forge his signature, enabling her to have control of his affairs.[2]
Khan was highly influential, despite being illiterate, however their inter-racial relationship ended in scandal in 1919.[3] That year, Sawalo Sise, whom Khan had previously protected, brought charges against McCallum: that he had three wives - Fatou Khan, Fana Kumba Lowe and Fatim Mbowe; that he was not administering the district himself.[3] He also accused Khan of using her influence to extract bribes from local farmers which were paid in grains, such as rice and coos.[4] The Governor, Edward John Cameron, set up a committee of inquiry, which was shocked by the relationship between McCallum and Khan.[3] This was the first recorded commission of enquiry established in colonial Gambia, and was a result of the role of a woman and her influence in colonial micro-politics.[3] The enquiry suspended McCallum, who then retired from service with a pension of £227 per annum; Khan was fined £50 on charges of impersonation.[1]
The life of Fatou Khan has been studied extensively by the historian Hassoum Ceesay, who demonstrates that her life can illustrate a variety of aspects of colonial Gambia: from the role of women, to literacy, to inter-racial relationships, as well as providing insight into colonial life in Gambia in the shadow of the First World War.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghassoum, ceesay (2012), Akyeampong, Emmanuel K; Gates, Henry Louis (eds.), "Khan, Fatou", Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195382075.001.0001, ISBN978-0-19-538207-5, retrieved 2021-01-16
^ ab"Gambian Women: An Introductory History - The Point". thepoint.gm. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
^ abcdeCeesay, Hassoom (2020). "FATOO KHAN, THE COLONIAL COMMISSIONER'S MISTRESS: AN AMOROUS RELATIONSHIP IN COLONIAL GAMBIA". Igwebuike: An African Journal of Arts and Humanities (in German). 6 (2). doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.12241.35684.
^Jallow, B. (2014-12-04). Leadership in Colonial Africa: Disruption of Traditional Frameworks and Patterns. Springer. p. 32. ISBN978-1-137-47809-2.
January 19, 2024
fatou, khan, also, fatu, fatoo, 1880, 1940, gambian, administrator, unofficial, commissioner, gambia, colony, protectorate, bornc, 1880njaudiedc, 1940njaucitizenshipgambia, colony, protectorateknown, foradministering, british, colonial, rulecriminal, chargesim. Fatou Khan also Fatu or Fatoo c 1880 c 1940 was a Gambian administrator who was an unofficial commissioner of the Gambia Colony and Protectorate Fatou KhanBornc 1880NjauDiedc 1940NjauCitizenshipGambia Colony and ProtectorateKnown forAdministering British colonial ruleCriminal chargesImpersonationBiography editKhan was born circa 1880 in Njau Village in the Upper Saloum District of the Gambia and was of Wolof ethnicity 1 Little is known of her early life other than she married for the first time circa 1900 but divorced him ten years later 1 In 1910 she married according to Sharia marriage rites for a second time on this occasion to the British Travelling Commissioner of the North Bank province one J K McCallum 1 Khan taught her husband Wolof a language for which he later wrote a grammar and dictionary 1 Throughout their marriage McCallum increasingly relied on Khan to undertake his duties for him which included collecting taxes and protecting her relatives from colonial authorities such as her uncle Chief Sawalo Sise 1 Often McCallum was reduced to signing letters that she had already drafted with the help of interpreters 2 He also supposedly taught her how to forge his signature enabling her to have control of his affairs 2 Khan was highly influential despite being illiterate however their inter racial relationship ended in scandal in 1919 3 That year Sawalo Sise whom Khan had previously protected brought charges against McCallum that he had three wives Fatou Khan Fana Kumba Lowe and Fatim Mbowe that he was not administering the district himself 3 He also accused Khan of using her influence to extract bribes from local farmers which were paid in grains such as rice and coos 4 The Governor Edward John Cameron set up a committee of inquiry which was shocked by the relationship between McCallum and Khan 3 This was the first recorded commission of enquiry established in colonial Gambia and was a result of the role of a woman and her influence in colonial micro politics 3 The enquiry suspended McCallum who then retired from service with a pension of 227 per annum Khan was fined 50 on charges of impersonation 1 Khan died circa 1940 in Njau 1 Historiography editThe life of Fatou Khan has been studied extensively by the historian Hassoum Ceesay who demonstrates that her life can illustrate a variety of aspects of colonial Gambia from the role of women to literacy to inter racial relationships as well as providing insight into colonial life in Gambia in the shadow of the First World War 3 References edit a b c d e f g hassoum ceesay 2012 Akyeampong Emmanuel K Gates Henry Louis eds Khan Fatou Dictionary of African Biography Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 acref 9780195382075 001 0001 ISBN 978 0 19 538207 5 retrieved 2021 01 16 a b Gambian Women An Introductory History The Point thepoint gm Retrieved 2021 01 16 a b c d e Ceesay Hassoom 2020 FATOO KHAN THE COLONIAL COMMISSIONER S MISTRESS AN AMOROUS RELATIONSHIP IN COLONIAL GAMBIA Igwebuike An African Journal of Arts and Humanities in German 6 2 doi 10 13140 RG 2 2 12241 35684 Jallow B 2014 12 04 Leadership in Colonial Africa Disruption of Traditional Frameworks and Patterns Springer p 32 ISBN 978 1 137 47809 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fatou Khan amp oldid 1088360847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
