Dawda Jawara

Who is Dawda Jawara?

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, GCMG was the first leader of the Gambia, serving first as Prime Minister from 1962 to 1970 and then as President from 1970 to 1994.

He was initially trained as a veterinary surgeon at the Glasgow veterinary school he then moved to complete his training at Liverpool University. From 1962 until 1970, when the country was a Commonwealth realm with Elizabeth II as head of state, Jawara was Prime Minister and head of government; a 1970 referendum made the country a republic, and Jawara became the nation's first president on April 24 of that year.

Born Kairaba Jawara on May 16, 1924 at Barajally, MacCarthy Island Division. His parents were Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara, Sir Dawda was educated at the Methodist Boys’ High School in colonial Bathurst, then attended Achimota College in Ghana, he then finished his studies at the University of Glasgow.