As part of their 160th Anniversary Celebrations, the Annie Walsh Memorial School last Friday June 5th 2009 launched a book entitled as “”Builders: The Annie Walsh Story 1849-2009"

Under the chairmanship of Mrs. Remi Toure (nee Hudson-Cole), the occasion at the  British Council was a splendid success and saw Professor Arthur Porter deliver a moving eulogy to the school ranging from its inception to date.

Professor Porterpointed out the uniqueness of the AWMS in that not only was it one of the very first all-Girls schooling in the world but it was specially for black ladies and actually started when slavery was not yet fully abolished.

The event saw outstanding old girls of the school read out portions of the book including Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker, Ms. Hannah Foulah and Mrs. Yvette Stevens. The event was well attended by both local and international dignitaries. It was a success. The book launching committee that was responsible for the success was chaired by Ayo Crème-Wright and the Chief Editor was Ms. Esme James. The Publicity Coordinator was Mrs. Sabra and Ms. Isa Blyden.

The Annie Walsh School was the first female institution founded in West Africa for women in 1849 and celebrates this year its 16oth anniversary. It is named after a missionary’s daughter, Annie, who died before she could embark on missionary work in Africa.

Copies of the book are now on sale. “Builders” – The Annie Walsh Story 1849-2009" is a collection of historical sketches, essays, testimonies and thoughts written by graduates and present pupils of the school.  The first line of the school song written and composed by a Mrs. Tina Aitkins in the mid 1950s, inspired the title of the book.  

The Annie Walsh Memorial School was founded by the CMS Mission in Sierra Leone as “The Female Institution” to educate Sierra Leonean women in 1849.  Its first principal, Miss Sass, an energetic Scotswoman, was its first principal.  The school was finally constructed in 1877 with the gracious funding from one Reverend Walsh who requested the school be renamed in memory of his daughter Annie who died before she could embark on missionary work in Africa.

Latileywa Hyde, the first of two African women to graduate from Fourah Bay College founded in 1827 as an institution of higher learning for educators and clergymen became its first African principal in the early nineteen sixties.  The Annie Walsh School has produced some of the greatest women in Sierra Leone and West Africa.  They are also noted for being trail blazers or embarking on singular careers. The example of Jemina Cox-George who remained the only female land surveyor in the history of West Africa is notable.  The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Sia Koroma, is the school’s current pride.