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Fatima Maada Bio (née Jabbe; born 27 November 1980), known simply as Fatima Bio, is a Sierra Leonean former actress, screenwriter and film producer who has served in the role of first lady of Sierra Leone, as the wife of President Julius Maada Bio since 2018.[1]

Fatima Bio
Bio in 2022
First Lady of Sierra Leone
Assumed role
7 March 2018
PresidentJulius Maada Bio
Preceded bySia Koroma
Personal details
Born
Fatima Jabbie

(1980-11-27) 27 November 1980 (age 43)
Koidu Town, Sierra Leone
Nationality
  • Gambian
  • Sierra Leonean
Political partySierra Leone People's Party (SLPP)
Spouse
(m. 2013)
Children4
Residence(s)State Lodge, Freetown
Alma mater
ProfessionActress
Websiteofficial website

As an actress, Bio participated in various Nollywood movie projects, as well as other acting projects in the United Kingdom. She hails from Sierra Leone's Kono District, in the southeastern part of the country; however, part of her heritage is Gambian.[2]

Early life and education

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Fatima Jabbe was born in Koidu, Kono District, to Tigidankay and Umar Jabbie on 27 November 1980. Her mother is Sierra Leonean and her father is Gambian. She was raised in a Muslim family and remains a devout Muslim herself.[1][2] She grew up in Kono and attended primary school at the Ansarul Islamic School. She later went to St Joseph's "Convent" Secondary School in Freetown.[1]

She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in Performing Art from the Roehampton Institute in London.[1] She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at the University of the Arts, London College of Communication, in 2017.[2]

Career

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Prior to her marriage to Maada Bio, Fatima had a successful career in the entertainment industry under her maiden name Fatime Jabbe. She began working in the African film industry when she was in London. She wrote, acted, and produced Nollywood films including Battered, Shameful Deceit, Mr. Ibu in Sierra Leone, Expedition Africa, and The Soul.[1][2] She starred in the film Mirror Boy and won a "Best Supporting Actress" at the 2011 ZAFAA Awards.[2]

In 2013, she won The Pan-African "Woman of the Year Award" from All African Media.[2] And In 2013, she earned a Best Female Actress at the African Oscars in Washington, DC.[2] The same year, she won the Gathering of African Best (GAB) Awards for promoting a positive view of Africans around the world.[2]

Charity

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Bio is a patron of a number of charities in the UK, including the John Utaka Foundation, which helps African children and young people cope with health challenges.[2]

Marriage and family

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Before Fatima married Bio in 2013, she had previously been married to a footballer with whom she had two children (Mohamed and Tida). She and Bio were married in a private ceremony in London on 25 October 2013.[3] On 27 June 2014, she gave birth to a son, Hamza Maada Bio who died three days later.[4] On 7 September 2015, a year after losing their son, she gave birth to their daughter, Amina.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Meet Fatima Jabbe-Bio, New First lady of Sierra Leone". slpptoday.com. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Thomas, Abdul Rashid (8 November 2013). "Sierra Leone's presidential hopeful – Maada Bio weds in London". thesierraleonetelegraph.com. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  3. ^ Koroma, Gibril (12 November 2013). "Alhaji Julius Maada Bio?". The Patriotic Vanguard. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  4. ^ Ajagunna, Timilehin (9 September 2015). "Gambian actress, Fatimah Jabbe delivers baby girl, a year after losing 3-day-old son". hthenet.ng. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Mr. & Mrs. Maada Bio Name Child". Sierra Express Media. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
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Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of Sierra Leone
2018–present
Incumbent