Comment by By Tamba Momoh Amara, commonly known as OT Amara. on Whatsapp Group - In loving memory of Late Dr Sakillah Nyuma Bondi

Late Dr. Sakillah Nyuma Bondi of Yendeh was one of the first Kissi native administrative (N. A) Clerks in Kissi Bendu or Kissidom in general. He was also one of the first Kissi man to hold a PHD Doctorate Degree in the Kissi land.

I first came to know late Dr. Bondi when he was going round the three Kissi Chiefdoms on a familiaration tour introducing him as the first Kissi N. A clerk. A position that was very important and popular in those days.

He visited the then District Council (D. C) School Buedu in the 1960s where I was a small boy at primary infant level but I remembered the events of that day.

The then Headmaster, late M. M Vandi even composed a Kissi song in praise of Dr. Bondi which we sang loudly.

He that day inspired several Kissi guys to study and work hard to also become clerks or teachers.

Late Dr. Bondi later traveled to America (USA) for further studies.

He attained his PHD Doctorate Degree and decided to stay in the USA like many others.

He worked in the USA for several years and later joined the United Nations

He was assigned to the Gambia and returned home to Sierra Leone to pickup appointment with IPAM.

He registered with the then Wolor Kumbaa as an Executive member thereby joining other Kissi VIPs in the light of:

1. Late John Musa Karimu, chairman (Teng)

2. Late RSM Johnathan Sahr Karim, vice chairman (Liberia)

3. Late Fallah O. B Wallan, treasurer (Kama)

4. Late Dr. Sahr Jimmy Rogers, Finance Officer (Tongi)

5. Ms. Kumba Browne, Social Secretary.(Pendembu, Luawa)

6. Late Sahr Tongi Kendor, Executive member (Tongi)

7. Mr. George Tamba Pesima, Executive (Kono)

8. Late Solokor Bockarie, Executive (Kono)

9. Late Sahr Aruna, Executive (Kono)

10. Hon. Tamba M. Borbor-Sawyer, Executive (Tongi)

11. Mr. Paul Sahr Fomba, deputy Social Secretary (Liberia)

12. Hon. Komba Kodoyama, Executive (Kono)

13. Late Dr. G. M. T Roberts, Executive (Tongi)

14. Late Nyuma Lamdo, Kissi Tribal Headman, Executive.

15. Late Fayia Kapa, Kissi Tribal Headman, Executive (Guinea)

16. Late Hon. Dr. Aiah Abu, Executive (Kono)

17. Late Sahr Lendeh, Executive (Liberia)

18. Mr. Tamba Momoh Amara OT, Secretary General (Tongi) .. etc.

Late Dr. Bondi became an active member of the then Wolor Kumbaa and one of the highest contributors to the Organisation's Aims and Objectives.

He personally donated a pickup truck load of asorted school text Books ranging from mathmatics, English, History, Geography etc. and related stationeries to Kissi Bendu Secondary School at Koindu, Kissi Teng.

The Books were driven to Koindu by retired Principal Fayia Tommy Tengbeh.

Dr. Bondi also fielded a mission to Koindu to offer Scholarships to over 100 students out of Funds raised by the then Wolor Kumbaa to students of Kissi Bendu Secondary school at Koindu.

Hence the then Wolor Kumbaa is on record to have offered over 100 scholarships to competent students in Kissi Bendu whose parents were not able to pay their school fees.

At a later stage, Dr Bondi in his desperate move to represent Kissi Bendu in Parliament took a bold, courageous, tricky and risky decision to resign from IPAM to join politics during the time of late President Siaka Stevens APC one party rule where almost all APC nominated candidates were known to be elected "UNOPPOSED ".and there was already an APC candidate for Kissi Bendu.... the then Kailahun East Constituency.

The rest is History for he tried several times to get elected to parliament to no avail.

THE PROMOTION OF KISSI CULTURAL HERITAGE;

With regards to the promotion of the Kissi Cultuural Hetitage, late Dr.Sakila Nyuma Bondi was one of our mentors especially for some of us who were interested in re - writing the Kissi History by giving it a clearer perspective.

There is more I could say about late Dr. Bondi but please allow me to stop here for I am still having tears in my eyes.

Indeed, even with the above brief tribute, I wish to conclude that we will greatly miss late Dr. Sakila Nyuma Bondi as irreplaceable intellectual and cultural resource in Kissi Bendu, Kissidom and Sierra Leone in general.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect eternal peace. Amen!!!

Tamba Momoh Amara nee OT Amara.

Comment by Pastor Kumba Brown. on Whatsapp Group - In loving memory of Late Dr Sakillah Nyuma Bondi

Good morning , good afternoon, good evening and have a blessed day whatever time zone you are in at your own part of the world. May the grace and mercies of the Lord, which are new every morning, rest upon you and your loved ones today, Amen.

🙏🏾✝️.

Thank you Dr TL for joining me to the group and to you

Brother OTA for suggesting my name.

I am happy to join with you all in mourning the passing away of our beloved Dr Sakilla Bondi, but also in thanking God and celebrating his life. He lived a full, impactful and successful life, and worthy to be celebrated and remembered. He was a trailblazer and motivator for many of us in the Kissi Kingdom. May his soul rest in perfect peace and may the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, comforts his immediate family. Amen 🙏🏾

I would like to humbly suggest on this platform, that whatever funds are remaining after all the funeral expenses have been paid from the contributions, that we please do two things:

Firstly, gather information and write his biography.

Secondly, start a FOUNDATION in his name.

Let it not just be that another great son of the Kissi Kingdom has passed away to eternity and in time we forget all about him. Let it be that his legacy is passed down from generation to generation. Dr Sakilla BONDI helped pay school fees for countless number of children, motivating others to take their education seriously and also encouraging and empowering others by helping them gain access to institutions of higher education. He made a difference in the world in general but particularly in Kissiland, and this should be in the annals of Kissi history and the world’s.

I believe if his biography is written, it will be a powerful tool in helping our children, (even ourselves) to appreciate and respect the perspective of others. Also enabling us and our children and generations yet unborn to become more forgiving , empathetic and more inclusive.

Please forgive me if you are a Muslim but I want to quote from the Bible:”*Psalm 145:4*

*One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts”*

This 👆🏽is why we need to leave a legacy. God gave us His written biography through the Bible which is helping us navigate life and overcome hindrances and obstacles today.

May this be a wake- up call also for us all, to redeem the time and start writing our biographies 😊😝!. Whatever our status, careers and experience in life is, it is worth putting them down permanently in the annals of Kissi history. So start thinking of writing your own personal biographies🫣!.

There are so many benefits in doing this; and just to name a few:

1) Leaving a legacy for our families. This helps our descendants to understand where they came from and know themselves better and appreciate their backgrounds.

2) It is a fundamental human need to know our past, how it links to the present and where we fit in. Example: Coloured Americans are today travelling all over Africa trying to identify their ancestors and their roots!

3) Future generations will know and understand who we were, what shaped and influenced our lives, good or bad in our era. How we overcame life challenges, etc and persevered to rise up to be who we became and thereby impacting our generation for good and leaving a blueprint.

I believe others who agree with me on this forum will have more valid reasons to add to why we need to write our stories. Late Dr BONDI being a case in point.

Now I pray in Jesus name: *That God bless and keep us all🙏🏾*.

Numbers 6:25-26

*That the Lord our God make His face shine upon us, and be gracious to us 🙏🏾. That He lift up His countenance upon us and give us peace*. Amen and Amen. 🙏🏾✝️

Stay blessed all 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Shalom☮️

Yours in Christ

Kumba🥰 

Comment by Falla Ensa-N'Dayma RSG. on Whatsapp Group - Makona River Forum

Indeed Dr. Sakillah Nyuma Bondi, one of the few Kissi men who left his luxurious life in the USA and came to dwell among us here in Sierra Leone. Not just in Sierra Leone as most elites would do, he went to Kissi Bendu and lived with the people. He stood for elections in 1982 and lost. He contributed to changing the name to Kissi Bendu High School from.Technical Vocational Shool.

Ladies and gentlemen, members, join me to celebrate Dr. Sakila Nyuma Bondi, these are the people who aught to be on historical artifacts like Calendars not self elevated people