John Joseph Akar (May 20, 1927 – June 23,1975) was a broadcaster, short-story writer, actor, playwright, journalist and, finally, diplomat.
He was born at Rotifunk, 64 km (40 mi) east- southeast of Freetown. His father, Joseph Philip Akar, was a Fransco–Lebanese, born in Rufisque, Senegal, who had eventually settled in Sierra Leone. His mother, Madam Dankay Mansaray, is a Sierra Leonean of the Mandinka tribe.
John Joseph had a varied educational career, attending the Evangelical United Brethren Day school at Rotifunk, the Albert Academy in Freetown, and, in the United States, Otterbein College in Ohio (1947-49), and the University of California at Berkeley (1949-51). He also attended the London School of Economics.
In 1954 his unpublished play, Valley without Echo, was produced in Europe by the British Council. His second play, Cry Tamba, was published in the West African Review in the same year.
In 1957, Akar was appointed head of programs in the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, becoming Director of Broadcasting from 1960-66. In 1961, at the time Sierra Leone gained its independence, he composed the national anthem. In order to help gain greater cultural recognition for Sierra Leone, he organised the National Dance Troupe, of which he was director from 1961-66, which he led in many successful performances around the world. In 1964 the troupe was acclaimed as the “best dance ensemble” at the New York World’s Fair.
In 1969 he was appointed Sierra Leone ambassador to the United states. Because of his disagreement with the Sierra Leone government over declaration of a republic, he quit his post in April 1971, taking a position for a time as assistant to the president of the University of California at Berkeley.
He then went to Jamaica, where he became a staff member of the Gleaner, where he wrote a regular Column entitled “Man on the Move.” He died of a heart attack in Jamaica in1975.
CYRIL, P. FORAY
