𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞

Waridala Descendants in Biriwa Chiefdom, Bombali district, sponsored the renovation, and on Friday reopened the historic mosque which illustrates an extraordinarily rich history of the town.

The Masjid Ikhlas had been in shambles for several years as the town people several times – failed to solicit funds, including from the Arabs for the rehabilitation efforts.

Built in 1955 and opened by Sir Maurice Dorman, it was the first time that this elaborate building had been renovated or reconstructed entirely after the descendants mobilised resources to keep in use the historic holy mosque.

Meanwhile, the descendants also generously extended the Bombali District Education Committee (BDEC) Primary School in Waridala from a mere two classrooms occupied by classes one to six to five classroom blocks, including a hall.

Also, a children’s playground has now been introduced to the school for the first time since it was founded in 1994.

Speaking in Waridala, a US-based coordinator of the Waridala Descendants, Umaru Fofana from San Jose, California said the great mosque which was a centre of Islamic education in the north had been in a situation where people were afraid to go inside the Holy mosque to pray.

Mr Fofana said during the rainy season, people could not go inside the mosque to pray as rain would wet all the mats inside it.

He added that debris was frequently falling which scared people from entering the mosque to avoid potential injuries from the falling debris – an occurrence that precipitated the reconstruction efforts by descendants.

In addition to the mosque, the Waridala Descendants also renovated the historic Clock Tower (built in 1955) which had also been in shambles for several years.

Elsewhere, the descendants also procured a wooden boat from Port Loko District to enhance transportation between the town and its neighbours in the next chiefdom where the Loko people come to do business in Waridala Town daily.

The Paramount Chief of Biriwa Chiefdom, Almamy Salifu Kalawa said he was greatly impressed by the unity shown by the Waridala Descendants for putting resources together to restore Masjid Ikhlas which he described as the symbol of the town.

The Administrative Secretary of the Supreme Islamic Council and Administrative Secretary of the Mandinka National Union for Sierra Leone, Alhaji Issa Fofanah called for more unity among his compatriots to help foster development initiatives in their hometown.