Research Catalog

Title

Asadata Dafora photograph collection [graphic].

Author

Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965.

Publication

1912-1960.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

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

Found In

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

Description

• 56 items (.3 lin. ft., 1 box); 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.
• 21 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 12 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 9 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 5 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ;
• 9 photographic postcards : silver gelatin, b&w ;

Summary

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.

Subjects

• Dance companies > New York (State) > New York
• Gelatin silver prints > 1930-1969
• African Americans in the performing arts
• African American choreographers
• Arrivals & departures > Africans > New York (State) > New York
• Photographic postcards > 1930-1949
• Dancers > New York (State) > New York
• Group portraits > 1930-1969
• Portrait photographs > 1930-1969
• Asadata Dafora Dancers
• Esammi, Musu
• Publicity photographs > 1930-1969
• Rolle, Esther
• Africans > New York (State) > New York
• Horton, Rosalia
• Wright, Estelle V., 1905-
• Dancers > Sierra Leone
• Layode, Joseph
• Africans > Dance > 1930-1969
• Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965
• Assen, Abdul
• African American dancers
• Magnets Steel Band
• Choreographers > New York (State) > New York
• Musicians > Sierra Leone
• Dancers > Liberia
• Dance, Black
• Shogola Oloba Group
• Inscriptions

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1930-1969.
• Group portraits – 1930-1969.
• Publicity photographs – 1930-1969.
• Photographic postcards – 1930-1949.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1930-1969.
• Inscriptions.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• 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.
• 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.
• Collection contains work by Carl Van Vechten, Maurice Goldberg, Cecil Layne, James J. Kriegsmann, and Aviation News Pictures, among others.

Terms of Use (note)

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

Biography (note)

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

Linking Entry (note)

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

Call Number

Sc Photo Asadata Dafora Collection

OCLC

NYPG98-F967

Author

Dafora, Asadata, 1890-1965.

Title

Asadata Dafora photograph collection [graphic].

Imprint

1912-1960.

Terms Of Use

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

Biography

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).

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

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

Local Note

Sc MG 48

Connect to:

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NYPL Digital Collections

Local Subject

African American choreographers.

Added Author

Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964. Photographer

Goldberg, Maurice. Photographer

Layne, Cecil. Photographer

Kriegsmann, James J. Photographer

Aviation News Pictures (New York, N.Y.)

Found In:

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

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Asadata Dafora Collection