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I. M. Garba-Jahumpa

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I. M. Garba-Jahumpa

Ibrahima Muhammadu/Momodou Garba-Jahumpa (22 November 1912 - 4 September 1994) was a Gambian trade union leader and politician who served as the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Health and Minister for Finance.

Ibrahima Momodou Garba-Jahumpa was born on 22 November 1912, in Bathurst (now Banjul), the Gambia, into a Muslim Wolof family. He was the son of Momodu Jahumpa. He began his education at the Mohammedan School in Bathurst (1925–1930). He earned a government scholarship to St. Augustine's Secondary School.

Garba-Jahumpa initially worked as a commercial clerk (1933–1935) before obtaining his teaching certificate in 1936. He then taught at Mohammedan School until 1944. His political career began under the patronage of Edward Francis Small, a prominent Gambian trade unionist and activist. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Rate Payers’ Association in 1935 and served as Secretary of the Gambia Labour Union (GLU) from 1942 to 1945. In 1945, he accompanied Small to the World Trade Union Conference in London.

As a teacher in the 1930s Ibrahima taught Dawda Jawara at Bathurst's Mohammedan School.

Ibrahima's political journey began in 1942 as a nominated member of the municipal council, with his success a result of his connection to the Muslim population.

During his formative years, Ibrahima embarked on his political apprenticeship and trade unionism under the guidance of Edward Francis Small, who is widely regarded as the father of Gambian trade unionism. Small took Ibrahima to the 1945 World International Trade Union Conference in London, where he had the opportunity to meet influential African leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah. Ibrahima also participated in the Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester, representing the Gambia Labour Union which he was Secretary, which was a significant point in his life.

Ibrahima's interest in trade unionism has been noted as relating to the opportunities in politics it would provide, and was criticised as not serving the labour once appointed.

In May 1946, Ibrahima played a pivotal role in reviving the Bathurst Young Muslims Society (BYMS). He also ran as a candidate in his home area of Half Die during the 1946 election and was elected as one of three BYMS candidates to the Bathurst Town Council [de] (BTC), a seat he held almost continuously until 1968. In 1959, he became the first Gambian to assume the position of Chairman (now known as Mayor) of the BTC. Simultaneously, he continued work as a tutor at the Teachers' Training College in Georgetown from 1949 to 1950 and served as the headmaster of Bakau School from 1950 to 1951.

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