John Akar

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John Joseph Akar (1927 - 1975) was a Sierra Leonean entertainer, writer, and diplomat. He served as Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the United States. Today, he is probably best known for composing the music of the Sierra Leone's National Anthem. He was born to an ethnic Sherbro mother and a Sierra Leonean-Lebanese father.

[edit] Early life

John Joseph Akar was born in 1927 in the small town of Rotifunk, Moyamba District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, to an ethnic Sherbro mother and a Lebanese father. Akar attended the E.U.B. primary school in Rotifunk, and proceeded to Albert Academy secondary school in Freetown. After he completed his secondary education, he moved to the United States to study commercial radio and television

[edit] Career

In 1960, Akar became the first non-Krio to be appointed Director of Broadcasting of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS). As director, Akar raised Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services to its highest professional standard, and reflect the true image of Sierra Leone, it music, and culture.

In 1963, Akar founded the National Danced Troop. He used the group to encourage Sierra Leoneans to be proud of the cultural heritage. In 1964, Akar and the National Dance troop were invited to the Unitd States to perform at New York world fair. They won the best performance of the fair, and was presented with plaque. in late 1964, they performed at the art festival in London, were thousands of British came to welcome them. In 1965]] they performed at the Negro Arts festival in Dakar, Senegal. In 1966, they went on a four months tour of Europe, including performances in Germany, Sweden and France.