Mr Mohamed Alpha Shaw was widely known as Alpha Shaw. To the Shaw family in Kenema, he was simply called ‘Babahen’ meaning ‘Father’, named after our maternal grandfather. To his peers in Kenema, Alpha Shaw was known as ‘Nongoluee’ meaning son of Nongowa in the Mende dialect. Dan Street Fourah Bay in Freetown, his last residence before his untimely death, Alpha Shaw was simply called ‘Slide Shaw’ or ‘Brother Shaw’.

‘Babahen’ was one of the most brilliant journalists of his generation, according to various newspapers in Sierra Leone. He was a fearless penman, a brilliant student a young political activist, and a humble leader and a great orator. Alpha Shaw had a bright future and so much potential had he lived longer, those who knew him could attest to these indisputable facts.

His peers could also attest to his visionary write-ups and versatility and his oratory prowess. His Alma mater, the Ahmadiyya Secondary School in Freetown aka ‘Zimtabba’ would always remember Alpha Shaw’s eloquence during the school assembly every morning as students – from form 1 to the sixth form – get the first opportunity to receive the latest local and world news in briefs from the late man. Alpha Shaw was a natural leader and educator.

He wrote many incisive, controversial, and factually based articles for the radical Tablet newspaper in the 70s and 80s at a tender age. Many of which were distasteful to the despotic APC government of President Siaka Stevens and his gang of the corrupt and dangerous cabal. ‘Babahen’ also contributed many articles to the Progress newspaper and the Sierra Leone Daily Mail published and edited by late veteran journalists Mr Fode Kandeh and Mr Arika Awuta Coker respectively.

At the tender age of 22 years, ‘Babahen’ died on July 17, 1980, few days after Sierra Leone hosted the Organisation of African Unity OAU conference. Alpha Shaw passed away at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown. He was allegedly admitted for tetanus infection and had a lock-jaw, according to hospital sources. They said he could not speak in his last days. He only reportedly communicated by writing notes.

Rather fishy that the Connaught Hospital authorities did not allow any family member to see him before he passed away. Every effort made by one family friend and a Kenema brother Tejan Kpaka to see Alpha Shaw at his death bed proved futile that fateful Wednesday. Sadly, Alpha Shaw died with no family member or friend by his bedside. He passed into eternity alone with all his secrets gone forever.

Was it a political foul play? Only God knows! But many believe he was murdered. Few months after his death, the APC government raided and burnt down the Rawdon Street offices of the vibrant independent Tablet newspaper. Editors Mr Hindolo Trye and Mr Pios Foray, both deceased now, were forced to flee into exile. And that was the untimely end of the Tablet newspaper, Sierra Leone’s most famous, critical and radical newspaper in history.

Alpha Shaw’s sudden death was a real shock to the Shaw family in Kenema and nationwide. His Alma Mater Ahmmadiya Secondary School in Freetown was particularly shocked as he passed away whilst waiting for his A-Level results. ‘Babahen’ attended St. Paul’s Primary School in Kenema and later the Government Secondary School in Kenema. He took his GCE O’Levels in 1978 at the Independent Memorial Secondary School in Freetown, before moving to Ahmmadiya to pursue his sixth form.

During the 1977 nationwide students’ demonstrations against the tyrannical APC government, the late Alpha Shaw, made his student activism felt when he addressed a large crowd of student protesters at the Capitol Cinema compound in Kenema. He came to the limelight after that historic address and many observers present there knew from that moment that Alpha Shaw was a genius and a crowd-puller and in total command of the Queen’s language.

This was how some Sierra Leone newspapers heralded the death of ‘Babahen’. The Sierra Leone Daily Mail wrote: “Alpha Shaw was one of the most brilliant students in the country.” The Progress newspaper headlined – Leader Alpha Shaw Dies; The Tablet newspaper wrote in its lead story – Genius Alpha Shaw is Dead. In the Tablet newspaper, a special tribute was written by University of Sierra Leone Lecturer Dr Jimmy Kandeh, his political soulmate, also from Kenema. Dr Jimmy Kandeh’s article was titled – A Tribute to a Departed Brother, Alpha Shaw.

‘Babahen’ had so many notable quotes. One famous one reads: “Even though the coat matters, the man in the coat matters most’. Another quote he often quoted during his speeches goes like this: “A man who is ignorant of the society in which he lives, who knows nothing of his place in the world and who has not thought about his own place in it, is not a free man even though he has a vote.”

His corpse was brought back to Kenema by the President of the Fullah Progressive Union FPU and business tycoon late Alhaji Bailor Barrie. Late Bailor Barrie was married to our mother’s elder sister. ‘Babahen’ was laid to rest in Kenema town. A fitting football match in his honour was played at the Kenema Town Field between Young Stars and a team from Freetown involving his peers. Those who knew him still believe ‘Babahen’ would have had a bright future had he lived longer.

‘Babahen’ was the pioneer of the journalism profession in the Shaw family in Kenema. Alpha Shaw’s embodiment of the spirit of journalism continues to flow in the family. Abu Shaw and other brothers Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw and the late Alhaji Brima Shaw alias ‘Black’ followed suit by keeping the journalism flame burning. ‘Black’ was a final year student of Journalism at Fourah Bay College FBC, the University of Sierra Leone when he passed away after a mystery ailment. The Organiser newspaper was formed in this same spirit and thus the dedication in the names of the departed and the best memories they left behind.

‘Babahen’s honesty, kindness, selflessness, frankness, and love for everyone will never be forgotten. He will always be in prayers. It’s hard to lose someone who had a bright future and had so much potential to help everyone and the nation in general. Sierra Leone lost someone who would have taken the country to higher heights. I still feel the pain of your death up to this day every minute, every second. Rest in peace big brother and we are proud that you lit up the Shaw family. May God’s perpetual forgiveness and everlasting light continue to shine on you in the true spirit of Africanism. Amen. Thank you for reading this brief biography by Abu Shaw.