By Foday Moriba Conteh
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Saturday 6th December, 2025 graced the Centennial Celebration Dinner of the Dakhlallah Antar Family, joining distinguished personalities to commemorate the family’s 100-year presence and contribution to Sierra Leone. The President, accompanied by First Lady Dr. Fatima Bio, attended the high-profile event held at the Antar Family Residence on Hill Station in Freetown, where government officials, diplomats and prominent community figures also gathered to honour one of the country’s oldest family legacies.
In her welcoming address, Hendia Sahid Antar, granddaughter of the late Dakhlallah Antar, expressed appreciation to guests for honouring the historic occasion. She highlighted the family’s century-long journey, describing it as one defined by resilience, heritage and lasting friendship with the people of Sierra Leone.
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate a century of heritage, resilience and contribution,” she noted, adding that the family remains grateful for the relationships built over generations.
Honourable Alhaji Dr. Alpha Kanu, longtime associate of the Dakhlallah Antar family, described the event as historic not only for the family but for the people of Port Loko and Sierra Leone. He recalled that the Antar family settled in Port Loko in December 1925 long before his own generation and have since become an integral part of the district’s social, cultural and economic life. “This family preceded many of us,” he explained, adding that even at over seventy years of age, the Antar history in Port Loko still stands nearly half a century ahead of his own lifetime.
He paid glowing tribute to the family patriarch, the late Dakhlallah Antar, describing him as a generous humanitarian whose quiet philanthropy touched countless lives. Dr. Kanu recounted personal childhood encounters with the late patriarch, noting that he was known for supporting vulnerable families, assisting children, and offering relief during difficult times.
According to him, the level of respect the family earned became evident at the time of Dakhlallah Antar’s death in 1966, when the entire district suspended activities including schools out of grief and solidarity. “That was how deeply rooted this family had become,” he said.
He highlighted the strong ancestral, social and marital connections between the Antars and several well-known Port Loko families, explaining that the family’s bonds expanded over generations, spreading beyond their Lebanese heritage into the fabric of Sierra Leonean identity. Dr. Kanu also noted that the family continues to play visible roles in the district through traditional leadership, local development support and assistance to communities during major events and celebrations.
Dr. Kanu welcomed visiting family members who had travelled from abroad to attend the centennial, while encouraging younger generations to carry forward the values of generosity, unity and service that characterised the Antar legacy. He stressed that the celebration was not merely a dinner, but a moment of reflection on a remarkable journey of integration and belonging. “Today is a celebration of a legacy and of people who have stood with Sierra Leone for a hundred years,” he emphasised.
He concluded by calling on guests to enjoy the evening and to recognise the significance of the moment not only for the Antar descendants but for Port Loko and Sierra Leone as a whole. He thanked the President, First Lady and dignitaries for honouring the family, describing the ceremony as proof of the long-standing mutual respect that exists between the Antar family and the nation at large.
It must be noted that the Antar family has consistently invested in community development. Their initiatives include the completion of the Presidential Pavilion at Benguema Military Training Camp, the donation of an X-ray machine to the 34 Military Hospital and the construction of schools at Mile 13. They are currently constructing a school and mosque at York Village as a gift to the community, while also supplying mortuary equipment to districts across the country. They have further supported water projects in Lungi, Port Loko and Kono, and pre-financed solar streetlights in Port Loko, alongside annual support for mosque renovations.
In recognition of their century-long contribution, the Government of Sierra Leone under President Bio this year appointed several members of the family to serve as Special Envoys. Jihad Eter serves as Special Envoy for Eastern and Central Europe, Daklala Mohamed Antar as Special Envoy for Trade and Investment, and Faissal D. Antar as Special Envoy for Tourism and Investment. These appointments reinforce the family’s continuing role in advancing national development.
For 100 years, the Antar family has stood as a pillar of Sierra Leonean society serving faithfully in moments of stability and crisis, investing generously in communities and living modestly despite their significant impact. Their story is not only one of business success and philanthropy but also of identity, belonging and national loyalty. For the Antars, Sierra Leone is not merely a place of residence; it is home.
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic cutting of the 100-year anniversary cake by His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, joined by members of the Antar Family, marking a proud milestone in a century of service, heritage and national commitment.
