The Seray-Wurie, Akibo-Betts, Hanciles, Wurie, Shyllon, Hebron, Mustapha, Boston-
Griffiths, Mahdi, Noah, Cole, Metzger, Fergusson, Taylor-Lewis and Tejan-Jalloh families
regret to announce the death of Afsatu Bolaje Akibo-Betts (nee Seray-Wurie), aged 79
years, former Mayoress of the City of Freetown, who passed away on 16 January 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Afsatu is survived by her children, Cheryl, Cleopatra, Alfred, Abraham, Indira, and Joan;
grandchildren, Afsa, Justice, Aiden, Camille, Gisele, Alfred Nnamdi, Abraham Jonathan,
Giovanni, and Chanel; her sisters Tunde Metzger, Duni Hebron, Verona Itam, Madinatu
Renner, Ramatu Ibrahim, Hajaratu Seray-Wurie, Maimunatu Bah and Glena Parkinson;
and her brothers Alhaji Seray-Wurie, Ekundayo Hebron and Saidu Jabbie. Daughter-in-
law, Binta Akibo-Betts.
Her nieces and nephews include Bordu, Ademola, Iyeshatu, Abayomi, Femi, Sarieu, Isa
Wright, Abdul Razak, Sheik Omar, Safoa, Memuna, Jajan, Felicia, Cleoney, Estelle,
Abdul, Mojola, Ekundayo, Fatu Yumkella, Alpha Wurie, Yang Kadae Wurie, Subie Wurie,
Ibrahim Seray-Wurie; Khadija Cole, Ramatu Koroma, Chernor Seray-Wurie; Zainab, Fatu,
Walid Seray-Wurie; Haki Jones, Hawa, Faria and Zaina Dahniya; Neneh Mensurah,
Ahmed Seray-Wurie, Faminda Boima, Isaac, Aziz and Isatu Seray-Wurie, Isa Milton-Cole,
Yasmin Seray-Wurie, Omotunde Seray-Wurie, Alieu Seray-Wurie, Dousy Seray-Wurie,
Petlyn Seray-Wurie, Haja Ejatu Mansaray, Elizabeth Fillie, Charlotte Compagne-Coker,
Ahmedsie Seray-Wurie, Fatmata Dixon, Isha Seray-Wurie, Modupeh Pratt, Winton Pratt,
Salmatta Ibrahim Sandy, Osman Ibrahim, Abekeh Pratt, Muhamadu Ibrahim, Anisa Cole,
Princess Hanciles, Ayo-Ola Iscandari, Lorraine MacIvan Davies, Jacqueline Fagbenro,
Dennis Young, Mark Grimes, Maxine Hanson, Medad Caramba Coker, Marcia Grimes, Liz
Gnamien, Marvin and Marcel Caramba Coker.
Close friends include Malphina Wright, Kadiatu Kamara, Jerelyn Jones, Gloria Miller,
Victoria Davies, Willette Perry, Patricia Mash, Oremide Hammond, Onike Thomas
Ngegba, Natalie Cole, Junietta Macauley, Tina Norman, and Amina Ajami.
Her funeral took place on Monday 2nd February 2026 at the Holy Trinity Church, Kissy Road, and interment at Racecourse Cemetery, Cline Town, Freetown.
The families thank all well wishers and sympathisers during this difficult time.
