I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson
I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson | |
|---|---|
Statue of Wallace-Johnson in Sierra Leone | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1894 Wilberforce, Freetown, British Sierra Leone |
| Died | 10 May 1965 (aged 70–71) Ghana |
| Political party | West African Youth League |
| Other political affiliations | United People's Party, United Sierra Leone Progressive Party |
| Occupation | Trade unionist, journalist, activist, and politician |
Isaac Theophilus Akunna Wallace-Johnson (1894 – 10 May 1965) was a Sierra Leonean, British West African workers' leader, journalist, activist and politician, recognised as one of West Africa’s most influential anti-colonial figures. A vocal advocate for workers' rights, press freedom, and African self-governance, he founded the West African Youth League (WAYL) and played a key role in Sierra Leone's labour movement.
His radical political stance, support for Marxist ideologies, and criticism of colonial rule led to repeated arrests, trials, and expulsions across British West Africa. Wallace-Johnson later transitioned from militant activism to mainstream politics, serving as a delegate at Sierra Leone’s independence talks in 1960.