HISTORY

HISTORY

ON THIS PAGE are vintage images and narratives of the founding years.

We have plans to develop an Oral-History of Shango-Ja. This will include the experiences of Karateka over the years in their own words. Here you will find a treasure of insights into the relationship of practice and life.

Our Sierra Leone Dojo Founder Francis Fuster (video below) was made to build a dojo with his bare hands by the Original Initiator and Founder Ibrahim Da Silva in Ghana 1977, before he was given his first class. Perhaps this beginning of self-reliance and commitment is a key to understanding the Shango-Ja ethos.

In over 40 years we have never received official funding or donations. Our first dojo and many since then had no roof. If it rained, we still trained. Trees became makiwaras and tyres filled with sand became weights. Civil war, political and economic instability and a continent with tremendous beauty and potential became the motivational backdrop to our desire to develop into moral men and women with a desire to make positive contributions in life.

We trained, lived and ate as brothers and sisters, learning to live and living to learn in a nurturing environment of family-hood. The 1st and 2nd generation karateka left Sierra Leone to travel the world, passing on the school to successive dedicated leaders. It is a testament to the quality of commitment to striving for the perfection of character that Shango-Ja is still alive over 40 years later.

BELOW are examples of the oral history sessions we are looking to facilitate.

Shihan Francis Fuster 6th Dan presents a brief history and what karate means to his lifestyle.

Phillip Williams 10th Dan Bujinkan Australia - Chief Instructor SL 1984-86 Founder Member 1st generation

Shango-Ja Membership Card 1979 - Harold King 2nd Dan - Senior and Founder-member Karateka.

First Students of Shango-Ja Martial Arts Academy 1979 - L-R Sensei Donald George 8th Dan - Shihan Francis Fuster - Sensei Harold King - Sierra Leone

Sensei Patrick Muana 5th Dan 3rd Generation Shango Ja Martial Arts Academy - in Bo - Leaders did their best to initiate dojos and training opportunities for young people to develop a disciplined lifestyle.