Born in Banjul, in 1955, Aja Maimuna Savage, proprietress of Muhammed Yadalieu English and Arabic Nursery School, is a renowned Islamic scholar in The Gambia.

Speaking to Women’s Weekly at her residence in Banjul, Aja Maimuna Savage explained that she acquired her early childhood Quranic education from her father at the age of three years, and also did her primary education at Methodist Primary School in Banjul, in 1961, from there she proceeded to former Gambia High School where she graduated in 1970.

Aja Maimuna, daughter of the late imam of Allen Street mosque, Muhammed Yadalieu Savage,inspired her to love the Quran and the Islamic religion.She noted that it was more than a duty, but a moral obligation to understand the Quran and practice its teachings. She quoted the saying of the prophet that, “the best among you is the one who learn the Quran and teaches .

The proprietress of Muhammed Yadalieu Arabic and English Nursery School which was established in 1997 revealed that, she established the school and the Daara in order to help Gambian Muslim children to acquire basic Islamic Knowledge, noting that the school had achieved its goals because, many parents had registered their children with the school

Aja Maimuna Savage is married and blessed with four children and three grand-children. She added that, she will make efforts to ensure her children and the grand children to have an indepth understanding of Islam and follow the teachings and practice of prophet Muhammed, just as she herself is doing and any other Muslim in accordance with the the purpose of Allah”s creation. She noted that, Allah has created human beings purposely to worship Him.

Bteween the 60s and 70s, Aja Maimuna was an active member of many Islamic organisations in the Gambia, especially such as Islamic Jamilatul Hirat and in Islamic Cultural Group and, Supreme Islamic Council of The Gambia, the federation of Islamic women association of the Gambia which an umbrella association of Muslim women in the Gambia of which she is the president and she is also a member of National Hajj Commission among others.

In 1997,the erudite Gambian female scholar had her own Islamic organisation called the Islamic Cultural Centre for Women and Children. She also served as a Hajj guide in many travel agencies in the country.

Aja Maimuna Savage, took the opportunity to expressed sincere thanks and deep sense of appreciation to the Gambian leader, President Jammeh for appointing her to serve as a member of the national Hajj commission.

She explained that the first great gathering that she started preaching, was at State House in 1994, praise be to Allah during aan annual Gamo. “I was invited to preach, from there on people started inviting me to Gamos. I can say everything started at State House, “she explained.

When I started working I was humbly the first Gambian woman whose voice was heard, preaching at Radio Gambia. From there people started saying that a woman voice must not be heard, but I beautifully discussed with them. Others will encourage me. I really want to thank them because there had been times that I sometimes got discouraged to people who called and said a woman voice must not be heard.

She thanked God that nowadays people want to know much about their religion several women are coming here to seek knowledge about the religion and I pray that I will continue serving my nation with the little knowledge I have until the day I return to my creator.

“Whatever good a woman does to develop her nation, is in line with Quaranic teachings, women can work in the offices, farm land and other places, but we must remember Allah at all times, particularly when it is time for prayers”, she advises.

I am engaged in quite a lot of activities. I will like to thank my husband for giving me the necessary support to venture into activities like preaching.