Fanta, Lady Singhateh, CRG (13 July 1929 – 12 May 2023), also known as Fatou Fanta Basse Sagnia,[1]orSagniang[2] was First Lady of the Gambia from 1966 to 1970.
Singhateh and her husband were early members of the People's Progressive Party, which was founded in 1959.[1] As part of their work within the party, they campaigned for the end of colonialism.[3]
Singhateh herself was known as a radical within the party.[4] Prior to her marriage, Singhateh was an activist and was one of the first people to receive charitable shipments of second-hand clothing from Belgium to distribute in regions like Bakoteh, Sukuta and rural villages.[5]
Singhateh served as First Lady of the Gambia from 1966 to 1970, when her husband was the Governor-General of the Gambia.[6] They were both the first Gambians to be in those posts, he as Governor-General, she as First Lady.[1] In her role, she was concerned with welfare and encouraged philanthropic schemes aimed at supporting women.[6] She was a strong advocate of communal, cultural and social development.[3]
In her 90s, she opened a bakery providing low-cost products, enabling everyone to buy bread.[5] She died on 12 May 2023, at the age of 93.[7]
In 2012, Singhateh became a Commander in the Order of the Republic of the Gambia (CRG).[8] When her husband was awarded a knighthoodbyQueen Elizabeth II, Singhateh could adopt the title Lady, and became known to many in the Gambia as 'Lady Fanta'.[3]
