Adelaide Casely-Hayford | |
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 Casely-Hayford in 1903 | |
| Born | Adelaide Smith (1868-06-02)2 June 1868 |
| Died | 24 January 1960(1960-01-24) (aged 91) Freetown, British Sierra Leone |
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| Children | Gladys |
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Adelaide Casely-HayfordMBE (néeSmith; 2 June 1868 – 24 January 1960),[1] was aSierra Leone Creole advocate, activist of culturalnationalism, teacher, fiction writer, and feminist. Her commitment to public service led her to improving the conditions of black men and women. She played an important role as an advocate of women's education in Sierra Leone to popularizePan-Africanist and feminist politics in the early 1900s.[2] In 1923, she founded a Girls' Vocational and Training School in Freetown to instil cultural and racial pride for Sierra Leoneans undercolonial rule. The school lasted until 1940 and strongly emphasized the education of African women. She later went on to further her mission of feminism and cultural nationalism from the school by writing short stories and memoirs.[3] In 1925, she attended a reception in honour ofthe Prince of Wales where she wore an African attire thereby creating a sensation in pursuit of Sierra Leone national identity and cultural heritage.[citation needed]
Adelaide Smith was born on 2 June 1868 inFreetown,British Sierra Leone. She attended Jersey Ladies' College (nowJersey College for Girls).[2] Her family tree consists of a white British judge grandfather, a Fanti grandmother from the Gold Coast, a Hausa trader great-grandmother, and a Maroon (half West Indian) grandfather.[4] Her father, William Smith, came to Freetown at seventeen. Her mother, Anne Smith, was part maroon and part mandingo. She was the sixth of eight children.[3] At Jersey Ladies' College, Casely Hayford and her sisters were the only black students, which taught her the power of kindness, as she wrote, "What did we know of racial prejudice, and an inferiority complex? Nothing! But we did know a lot about the milk of human kindness."[5] Like many other Sierra Leonean women born into the elite society, she was deeply influenced by Victorian values and ideas of family and gender roles.[2] Casely-Hayford also travelled, and while doing so became interested inPan Africanist politics. At the age of 17, Smith went toStuttgart,Germany, to study music at theStuttgart Conservatory. She returned to England, where she and a sister opened a boarding home for African bachelors living in the country as students or workers.[6] During a speech in 1905, she emphasized the importance African women could have in social and political development.[2] Two years later, she returned to the Gold Coast (now Ghana). Her return was one of reluctance because of the attachment she and her sisters had formed to England. However, it was the wish of her father on his deathbed that motivated her to return. Upon returning she criticized raising black children overseas because of the lack of connection the children would have to their homeland.[3]
Adelaide Smith returned to England with her sister, Mrs. Nettie Easrnon. During her time spent in England she received a letter from J. E. Casely Hayford.[3] While in England, Adelaide Smith marriedJ. E. Casely Hayford (also known as Ekra-Agiman). Their marriage may have given her a deeper insight into African culture and influenced her transformation into a cultural nationalist. Their daughterGladys Casely-Hayford became a well-knownCreole poet.[7] In 1914, Adelaide and J.E.'s marriage failed, after which she returned to Sierra Leone. The failure of their marriage came from them seeing little of each other with J. E. Casely Hayford practicing law and Adelaide Casely Hayford being an educated woman. Adelaide in the future went on to blame her husband for their past continued financial problems.[3]
Casely-Hayford earned several awards from thecolonial government in recognition of her contributions to the people of Sierra Leona.
Asteroid6848 Casely-Hayford, discovered by American astronomersEleanor Helin andSchelte Bus atPalomar Observatory in 1978, was named in her memory.[9] The officialnaming citation was published by theMinor Planet Center on 27 August 2019 (M.P.C. 115893).[10]
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