March 31, 2016 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Former stringer for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Sierra Leone and Guinea-Conakry was Tuesday, 29 March, laid to rest at the Kissy Road cemetery after ‘Janaza’ prayer at Mandingo Mosque, Magazine Cut, east of Freetown.
The sudden death of Foday Fofana, 57, one of the country’s finest and erudite journalists, in the early hours of Monday, 28 March at his Hagan Street residence, after a short illness, was greeted with shock and mixed feelings within the journalism fraternity.
A host of journalists, including veterans Christo Johnson, Mohamed Samoura and former Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, attended the funeral to pay their last respect to a man who served as a mentor and motivator to many young journalists.
Mr. Fofana reported for the BBC in the ‘80s and early ‘90s from Freetown and Conakry, and until his death was a writer at The Exclusive Newspaper.
Before the ‘Janaza’ prayer, President of SLAJ, Kelvin Lewis, said the late Mr. Fofana was his close friend who taught him practical things on the job, adding “Mr. Fofana will surely be missed by the journalism society.”
He prayed for Allah almighty to have mercy on his soul and grant him the highest heaven.