By Foday Moriba Conteh
The historic Old Fourah Bay College building in Cline Town, Freetown, has officially begun its restoration, led by West Africa Heritage Consultants SL Limited and the World Monuments Fund, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and supported by a £300,000 grant from the Commonwealth Heritage Forum (CHF). The project was formally launched on Friday, 16 January 2026.
Founded in 1827, Old Fourah Bay College is the oldest western-style institution of higher learning south of the Sahara. The college has played a pivotal role in shaping generations of African lawyers, teachers, clergymen and civil servants. Its iconic structure, completed in 1848, suffered extensive damage during Sierra Leone’s civil war (1991–2002). The current restoration initiative aims to rehabilitate the building while contributing to the regeneration of the surrounding Cline Town community.
The grant from CHF will fund essential restoration works, including structural stabilization, installation of a new roof, masonry repairs, reconstruction of collapsed sections and the full restoration of the ground floor. The project is designed to preserve the historic character of the building while ensuring its functionality as a multipurpose cultural hub, which will include a performance theatre, museum and education centre. These interventions are expected to generate employment, enhance community engagement and promote culture as an economic asset.
Speaking at the launch, Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, emphasized that the restoration transcends architecture. “This project represents a reaffirmation of the country’s respect for its heritage, confidence in its culture,and belief in its national values,” she said. Nabeela Farida Tunis acknowledged the role of West Africa Heritage Consultants, CHF, the U.S. Embassy and other development partners in making the restoration possible. She highlighted the college’s role in producing leaders and thinkers who shaped Sierra Leone and West Africa, stressing that the building stands as a living testament to the nation’s academic and intellectual legacy.
The Minister outlined the broader vision for the restored facility as a centre for education, culture and tourism. She explained that projects like this allow young Sierra Leoneans to engage with their history, reinforcing national pride and identity. She called on Government agencies, community stakeholders and development partners to collectively support the initiative and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to pursuing UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the college.
Presidential Historian, Prof. Joe A.D. Alie, traced the college’s origins to the aftermath of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, noting that the institution was founded to provide education, moral guidance and leadership for liberated Africans settling in Freetown. What began as a modest missionary school with six students rapidly evolved into the first Western-style university in sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof. Joe A.D. Alie highlighted that the iconic Old Fourah Bay College building was constructed in 1845 on the site of a former slave factory, with stone and timber salvaged from condemned slave ships, symbolizing redemption and freedom. Early leaders included Reverend Edward Jones, the first Principal and Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first student, who later became the first African Anglican bishop. By 1876, the college had evolved into a full university college affiliated with Durham University in England, attracting students from across West Africa and establishing the institution as a regional intellectual hub.
He emphasized that alumni played key roles in nation-building, forming the backbone of Sierra Leone’s civil service, judiciary, church and education system, while also influencing developments across the continent. Prof. Joe A.D. Alie recalled that the building was declared a national monument in 1955 and following the college’s relocation to Mount Aureol, served as a railway headquarters and Magistrate courts before suffering damage during the civil war. He urged stakeholders to preserve the site and uphold its values of excellence, service, integrity and faith in the power of the African mind.
Madam Isatu Smith, Restoration Project Manager and member of the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, explained that CHF, founded in 2019, is dedicated to safeguarding-built heritage across the Commonwealth while developing skills in conservation. She highlighted the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme, which places young people at the center of live restoration projects, providing hands-on expertise in traditional crafts, materials conservation, site safety and documentation.
Regarding Sierra Leone, Isatu Smith said CHF’s integrated heritage conservation and training program centres on Old Fourah Bay College. She noted that after the unexpected withdrawal of anticipated funding in February 2024, CHF committed its largest single grant of £300,000 to ensure continuity. In 2025, CHF also conducted two specialist ironwork restoration training courses at the site, equipping young Sierra Leoneans and Government technical officers with skills to preserve key cast- and wrought-iron elements. Isatu Smith emphasized that ongoing restoration works are transforming the building into a vibrant cultural hub, creating opportunities for training, employment and professional development.
Representing the World Monuments Fund, Lead Project Consultant and Architect, Stephen Battle, described the restoration as a collective effort to preserve Sierra Leone’s heritage while securing the building’s future use. He traced the project’s history from the initial condition assessment in 2011 to grants from the U.S. Embassy in 2021 and 2024, followed by CHF’s intervention in 2025. He noted that World Monuments Fund has raised additional funding to match CHF’s grant.
Stephen Battle explained that the first phase focuses on installing a new roof to ensure structural stability and enable productive use of the ground floor, with future plans to add two additional floors. He emphasized that the project is a conservation initiative, preserving historical features while facilitating new use, including a training center for building crafts and a cultural hub.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Moore, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to heritage preservation, noting that the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation supported the project’s initial phases.
She praised the collaboration between international and local experts, including the World Monuments Fund, Atkinson Nolan & Associates, and architect Aziza Chaoui, working alongside Sierra Leonean engineers. Jacqueline “Jackie” Moore emphasized that the restoration goes beyond safeguarding a building; it represents respect for history, education and a shared vision for the future.
British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Josephine Gauld, underscored the college’s critical role in shaping intellectual thought and leadership across West Africa. She commended the craftsmen and technical experts for their skill and dedication, highlighting the project’s complexity compared to new construction. Josephine Gauld welcomed the restored building’s future use as a cultural and educational space that will benefit both Sierra Leoneans and international visitors.
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr described the restoration as a milestone in the city’s cultural preservation agenda, aligning with the “Transforming Lives” initiative. She noted that the project connects communities to Sierra Leone’s history and educational heritage while providing young engineers with hands-on conservation skills. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted the City Council’s commitment to ensuring restored heritage sites remain active, valued and accessible for generations to come.
The launch of the Old Fourah Bay College restoration project marks a significant step in preserving Sierra Leone’s educational and cultural heritage while creating opportunities for skills development, tourism and community engagement, reaffirming the building’s status as the “Athens of West Africa.”
