e-Ananse Library celebrates first Ghanaian photojournalist

e-Ananse Library has organized a grand “Durbar and Cultural Celebration” to honour the legacy of the legendary photographer, James Barnor.

James Barnor is the first Ghanaian photojournalist whose extraordinary photography and visual storytelling has immensely influenced the scope of traditional and contemporary photography.

James Barnor, who was the photographer of the late former President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is now 95 years old.

The grand durbar held over the weekend at e-Ananase Library, East Legon was in commemoration of ‘James Barnor at 95 Festival’, and it saw many high-profile dignitaries in the art industry attending amidst pomp and pageantry.

The daughter of Ghana’s president, Gyankromah Akufo-Addo, who is the Director of the Creative Arts Industry also graced the occasion.

Other high-profile dignitaries in attendance were Dr Prof. El Anatsui, Prof. Ablade Glover, Victor Butler, Willie Fugah, Wiz Kudowor, Edem Dei-Tutu (representing UNESCO Ghana), Kate Tamakloe (granddaughter of J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije) and Ms Valentina Mintah, Founder of e-Ananse Library.

The legendary photographer’s youngest fans from Jack and Jill School, North Legon School Complex, Expo Best Child School and Witty Kids International School were at the event to celebrate him.

Jame Barnor was accompanied by Lisa Lovett-Smith (James Barnor 95 Festival Producer), Clémentine de la Féronnière and the festival organizing team.

Before the performances began, guests were ushered into hands-on activities, drumming and singing with Abibigromma of the University of Ghana School of Performing Arts and engaging in a digital photo exhibition showcasing Barnor’s iconic works.

The audience enjoyed a poetry recital by Akusika, an uplifting high-life music performance by Kwanpa Band, and a mesmerizing cultural performance by Abibigromma.

There was also a conversation with James Barnor, led by Twinsdntbeg, which provided a captivating glimpse into his illustrious photography career.

MrBarnor expressed her heartfelt gratitude to eAnanse Library for organizing the durbar to celebrate him and his works.

About James Barnor:

James Barnor is a Ghanaian photographer born in Accra in 1929, with a career that has spanned more than six decades. He became the country’s first photojournalist for Daily Graphic and is internationally known to have photographed major social, cultural and political developments across Ghana and England. James Barnor was the photographer of the late former President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

About e-Ananse

e-Ananse Library was established to help revitalize Ghana’s reading culture and provide people with the tools to compete in the 21st Century by giving them access to high-quality contemporary literature, state-of-the-art internet-enabled computing facilities, and world-class literary events while maintaining Ghanaian storytelling heritage.

The library has a unique focus on African heritage and identity, both in its design and contents with books written primarily by writers of African descent.

This library was established in 2019 by Ms Valentina Mintah to provide Ghanaians with culturally relevant resources that celebrate our African heritage in line with her mantra, “Think Global; Know Local.”

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