Sheikh Kafumba Konneh (May his soul rest in peace)

When a giant tree falls in the forest, it impacts other trees far and near. Today, the passing of Sheik Kafumba Konneh symbolizes the fall of a giant tree in the forest. 

Sheik Kafumba was the most prominent voice and face of Islam in the last three decades in Liberia starting from the time he served as the Secretary General of the Muslim Union of Nimba County to the Secretary General and Chairman of the National Muslim Council of Liberia. He was not just an Islamic preacher, he was a politician, scholar, lawyer and judge as well.

Before the assassination of President William R. Tolbert, Sheik Kafumba Konneh was the Commissioner of Ganta City in NImba County. Before then he was justice of the peace in Sanniquillie Nimba County. His role as an activist started with his disagreement with President Samuel Doe and his support for Edward Kesselly, the founder of the current ruling Unity Party. 

It was Sheik Kafumba Konneh who mobilized Nimba County for Edward Kesselly in the 1985 election. I was there in Sanniquellie when Kesselly visited Sanniquellie and received a rousing welcome. On that occasion, Sheik came to his home town of Saclepea to mobilize the community for Kesselly. I was among those that traveled to Sanniquellie to participate in that political rally.

This picture during my last face to face

interaction with Sheik Kafumba Konneh

during my visit to Liberia last year for my

 documentary project on ethnic and cultural

 diversity in Liberia.

When the war started, Sheik Kafumba represented the National Muslim Council on the Interfaith Mediation Committee. On that committee, he was brave. His bravest act was traveling to Tappita, Nimba County to meet with the then rebel leader Charles Taylor. As a Muslim, many were cautious about this meeting with the feared rebel leaders whose forces were notorious for killing Muslims all over Liberia.

When peace talk took place in Banjul, Gambia, Sheik was nominated by some to serve as Vice President of the Interim Government of National Unity, IGNU which was headed by Dr. Amos Sawyer. He declined this position, saying that will compromise his position as a peacemaker. 

Because of these, Sheik Kafumba Konneh became a well known respected national figure. So his passing is truely a national lost. Not only has the Konneh family lost a great father, uncle, a son, and a husband, Liberia and particularly the Muslim community have lost a sage, an erudite scholar, an activist and national leader. 

Sheik Kafumba Konneh at the Don Stewart Pentecostal Church in New Kru Town paying tribute to Archbishop , Archbishop William Nah Dixon, his Christian counterpart on the Interfaith Mediation Committee.

We pray that Allah will reward him for all his sacrifices in the cause of peace and unity in Liberia and Africa. At the time when some cold bloody criminals are committing terrible crime in the name of Islam, Sheik Kafumba Konneh represented the face of Islam that calls for interfaith dialogue and engagement.

Rest in peace our father. May Allah forgive your sins and grant you Paradise. Meantime, the official announcement from the Konneh family will be made tomorrow morning in an emergency family meeting.

By: Nvasekie Konneh