1848 to 1886 Bamba, which means "pink" in Arabic, was just a
young lady of fifteen (born around 1848) when the American
Presbyterian missionaries in Cairo wrote down her story. Amidst
other names of early Protestant Christians in Egypt, her single
name piques one's curiosity considering how young she was: who
was she and what did she contribute to the development of the
Presbyterian Church? Some, however, have felt that she did not
do much for the early Egyptian Presbyterian Church because she
left the country just several months after her conversion and
confirmation, while others felt that her unwavering faith and
innocent obedience, and her (or her husband's) financial
contribution to the young mission are worth recognizing and re-
telling. This story begins in late 1863 or early 1864, when a
group of eight young men and one girl applied for confirmation
or admission to communion. While five of the young men were
advised to delay, the public dedication of the remaining four,
the girl included, produced a dee