Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

The Gambian media fraternity, the education sector, and the broader Alliance Française community are mourning the passing of Mr. Saihou Bah—a distinguished teacher, journalist, intellectual, and devout Muslim whose life embodied humility, discipline, and service.

His departure leaves a profound void in the hearts of those who knew him, learned from him, or were touched by his quiet but enduring influence.

Mr. Bah’s journey was defined by an unwavering commitment to knowledge. His academic pursuits took him beyond the borders of The Gambia to France, where he studied at the CFPJ – École de Journalisme, Rue du Louvre, Paris, and later at the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée in Besançon.

These experiences shaped his intellectual breadth and sharpened the analytical clarity that became his hallmark. As an editor and contributor to the French edition of the Daily Observer Newspaper, he brought rigour, precision, and integrity to journalism at a time when the profession demanded courage and clarity.

Before entering the newsroom, Mr. Bah served as a teacher and later as principal of Sheikh Mass Kah Senior Secondary School, where he mentored generations of students. Even after retiring from formal teaching, he never ceased to educate.

His social media presence became an extension of his classroom—an open space where he shared reflections, corrected misconceptions, and offered gentle reminders rooted in Islamic teachings. His Facebook posts were not mere commentary; they were lessons delivered with sincerity and depth.

A deeply religious man, Mr. Bah lived his faith with quiet dignity. As a committed member of the Tijaniyya Sect, he devoted his time to spiritual practice and community upliftment. In recent years, he organised regular “Ahlu Yaseen recitations”, bringing friends and neighbours together to remember Allah and strengthen communal bonds.

His love for the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was evident in his writings, his conversations, and the hadiths he shared to guide others toward reflection and righteousness.

Beyond his scholarship and spirituality, Mr. Bah was a man of warmth, humor, and humanity. He was well read, with a vast vocabulary and a worldview shaped by books, travel, and lifelong curiosity.

He cherished intellectual exchange, and many, including myself, shared with him works on Islam, philosophy, political science, and the social sciences. He received every book with gratitude and engaged every idea with seriousness.

Yet he was also a man who understood the joy of lighthearted banter. A die-hard Arsenal supporter, he relished football debates, especially with those of us who defended Manchester United with equal passion.

Our exchanges—spirited, humorous, and sometimes theatrically combative became a cherished ritual. As a Yetteh Bah and I as a Yetteh Jallow, our joking relationship was rooted in affection and mutual respect. Football was our battleground, but friendship was our foundation.

In 2020, on his birthday, I wrote words that now feel even more poignant:
“Your Sheikhship personality, your charismatic lifestyle, your vast intellectual influence, and your enriching friendship have left an ineffable impact on many lives… You are far too good to be unloved.”

Those words remain true today. They capture the essence of a man whose presence enriched countless lives subtly, directly, academically, morally, and spiritually.

Mr. Saihou Bah was, above all, a good man. A decent human being. A teacher in the truest sense of the word. His legacy lives on in the students he taught, the readers he informed, the friends he uplifted, and the community he served with humility.

As we bid him farewell, we pray that Allah grants him mercy, forgives his shortcomings, and welcomes him into Jannatul Firdaus.

May his grave be illuminated with light, and may his good deeds continue to benefit him in the hereafter.

The media has lost a colleague. Education has lost a mentor. The Alliance Française community has lost a guide. And many of us have lost a brother.

But his legacy endures in faith, in knowledge, in kindness, and in the countless hearts he touched.

May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdausi and may Allah have mercy on the soul of Mr. Saihou Bah. Ameen.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow