John Akar
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Akar was a Sierra Leone
an of Lebanese
descent 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
.
, Moyamba District
in the Southern Province
of Sierra Leone, to an ethnic Sherbro
mother and to 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
and the first Sherbro to be appointed Director of Broadcasting of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS).
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 United 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
. 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
.
Akar was a repeat guest on the Merv Griffin Show on television.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an of Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
descent entertainer, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. He served as Sierra Leonean Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States. Today, he is probably best known for composing the music of the Sierra Leone's National Anthem
High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free
"High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free" is the national anthem of Sierra Leone. It was written by Clifford Nelson Fyle and composed by John Akar. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1961 when the country became independent replacing God Save The Queen...
.
Early life
Akar was born in the small town of RotifunkRotifunk
Rotifunk is a town in Moyamba District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Sherbro make up the largest ethnic group in the town.Rotifunk is the birthplace of Sierra Leonean politician, John Karefa-Smart, and writer, John Akar....
, Moyamba District
Moyamba District
Moyamba District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 260,910 in the 2004 census. Its capital and largest city is Moyamba. The other major towns include Njala, Rotifunk and Shenge...
in the Southern Province
Southern Province, Sierra Leone
The Southern Province is one of three provinces of Sierra Leone. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 . It consists of four districts . Its capital and administrative center is Bo, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone...
of Sierra Leone, to an ethnic Sherbro
Sherbro people
The Sherbro people are a native people of Sierra Leone, who speak the Sherbro language; they make up 3% of Sierra Leone's population or about 201,000. They are also known as the Bullom people...
mother and to a Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
father. Akar attended the E.U.B. primary school in Rotifunk, and proceeded to Albert Academy
Albert Academy
The Albert Academy is a secondary school in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was founded on 4 October 1904 and named after American missionary Rev. Ira E. Albert. The school's motto is Esse Quam Vederi . It is situated at Berry Street in Freetown...
secondary school in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. After he completed his secondary education, he moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study commercial radio and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
Career
In 1960, Akar became the first non-CreoleSierra Leone Creole people
The Sierra Leone Creoles, or Krios, are an ethnic group in Sierra Leone, descendants of West Indian slaves from the Caribbean, primarily from Jamaica; freed African American slaves from the Thirteen Colonies resettled from Nova Scotia; and Liberated Africans from various parts of Africa...
and the first Sherbro to be appointed Director of Broadcasting of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS).
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 United States to perform at New York world fair. They won the best performance of the fair, and was presented with plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
. In late 1964, they performed at the art festival in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1965 they performed at the Negro Arts festival in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. In 1966, they went on a four months tour of Europe, including performances in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Akar was a repeat guest on the Merv Griffin Show on television.
External links
- http://www.sierra-leone.org/heroes10.html