Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964.
2. Goldberg, Maurice.
3. Layne, Cecil.
4. Kriegsmann, James J.
5. Aviation News Pictures (New York, N.Y.)

Found in

1. p1bc Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965. Asadata Dafora papers, 1933-1963 (CstRLIN)NYPW89-A77

Description

1. 56 items (.3 lin. ft., 1 box); 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

Summary

1. The Asadata Dafora Photograph Collection depicts some aspects of his personal life and his professional career as dancer/choreographer, from the 1910s to the early 1960s.

Subject

1. Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965
2. Horton, Rosalia
3. Assen, Abdul
4. Rolle, Esther
5. Esammi, Musu
6. Layode, Joseph
7. Wright, Estelle V., 1905-
8. Asadata Dafora Dancers
9. Shogola Oloba Group
10. Magnets Steel Band
11. African American dancers
12. Africans > Dance > 1930-1969
13. African Americans in the performing arts
14. Choreographers > New York (State) > New York
15. Dance, Black
16. Dancers > New York (State) > New York
17. Dance companies > New York (State) > New York
18. Africans > New York (State) > New York
19. Dancers > Sierra Leone
20. Dancers > Liberia
21. Musicians > Sierra Leone
22. Arrivals & departures > Africans > New York (State) > New York

Genre/Form

1. Portrait photographs – 1930-1969.
2. Group portraits – 1930-1969.
3. Publicity photographs – 1930-1969.
4. Photographic postcards – 1930-1949.
5. Gelatin silver prints – 1930-1969.
6. Inscriptions.

Call number

1. Sc Photo Asadata Dafora Collection

Note

1. Title devised by cataloger.
2. Some photographs have either photographer's or photography studio's handstamp on verso; some items have photographer's or photography studio's name either blind stamped, printed or inscribed on recto.
3. Some photographs have handwritten notations on verso; some items bear either handwritten or printed captions on verso; two photographs bear typewritten captions; some portraits bear inscriptions; some items are duplicates.
4. Collection contains work by Carl Van Vechten, Maurice Goldberg, Cecil Layne, James J. Kriegsmann, and Aviation News Pictures, among others.

Terms of use (note)

1. Some items are restricted; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

1. Asadata Dafora Horton, dancer and choreographer, was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1890.

Linking entry (note)

1. Forms part of the Asadata Dafora Papers, 1933-1963.

Author

1. Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965.

Title

1. Asadata Dafora photograph collection [graphic].

Imprint

1. 1912-1960.

Terms of use

1. Some items are restricted; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

1. Asadata Dafora Horton, dancer and choreographer, was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1890. He attended Wesleyan High School in Freetown and is believed to have studied opera in Italy and dance in Germany between 1910-1912. Arriving in New York to pursue a operatic career in 1929, Dafora would eventually form the African dance troupe, Shogola Oloba. The troupe's first performance was of his dance opera "Zoonga" in 1933, followed by "Kykunkor" (1934). Later renamed the African Dance Troupe of the Federal Theatre Project in 1935, the troupe participated in Orson Wells' production of "Macbeth" (1936).
2. Over the next two decades Dafora produced a repertoire of work, including "Zunguru" (1938), "Festival at Battalakor" (1945), "The Valley Without Echo" (1955) and "Afra Ghan Jazz" (1959). In 1960, Dafora passed the directorship of the troupe to troupe member Esther Rolle and returned to Sierra Leone to serve with the ministry of culture. However, failing health forced him back to New York where he died in 1965.

Linking entry

1. Forms part of the Asadata Dafora Papers, 1933-1963.

Local note

1. Sc MG 48

Connect to:

1. Request Appointment
2. NYPL Digital Collections

Local subject

1. African American choreographers.

Added author

1. Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. Photographer
2. Goldberg, Maurice. Photographer
3. Layne, Cecil. Photographer
4. Kriegsmann, James J. Photographer
5. Aviation News Pictures (New York, N.Y.)

Found in:

1. p1bc Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965. Asadata Dafora papers, 1933-1963 (CstRLIN)NYPW89-A77

Research call number

1. Sc Photo Asadata Dafora Collection