Fanta Singhateh

Fanta, Lady Singhateh, CRG (13 July 1929 – 12 May 2023), also known as Fatou Fanta Basse Sagnia, or Sagniang They had six children together.

Singhateh herself was known as a radical within the party. 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.

Singhateh served as First Lady of the Gambia from 1966 to 1970, when her husband was the Governor-General of the Gambia. They were both the first Gambians to be in those posts, he as Governor-General, she as First Lady.

Awards

In 2012, Singhateh became a Commander of the Order of the Republic of the Gambia (CRG).

When her husband was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II, Singhateh could adopt the title Lady, and became known to many in the Gambia as 'Lady Fanta'.