https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/dec/20/africas-biggest-photography-library-opens-in-ghana-accra-dikan-center [p] Skip to main contentSkip to navigation Print subscriptions Sign in Search jobs Search US edition[ ] * US edition * UK edition * Australia edition * International edition The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian [ ] * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle ShowMoreShow More * [ ]News + View all News + US news + World news + Environment + Soccer + US politics + Business + Tech + Science + Newsletters + Fight to vote * [ ]Opinion + View all Opinion + The Guardian view + Columnists + Letters + Opinion videos + Cartoons * [ ]Sport + View all Sport + Soccer + NFL + Tennis + MLB + MLS + NBA + NHL + F1 * [ ]Culture + View all Culture + Film + Books + Music + Art & design + TV & radio + Stage + Classical + Games * [ ]Lifestyle + View all Lifestyle + Fashion + Food + Recipes + Love & sex + Home & garden + Health & fitness + Family + Travel + Money * Search input [ ] google-search Search + Support us + Print subscriptions * [ ]US edition + UK edition + Australia edition + International edition + Europe edition * + Search jobs + Digital Archive + Guardian Puzzles app + Guardian content licensing site + The Guardian app + Video + Podcasts + Pictures + Inside the Guardian + Guardian Weekly + Crosswords + Corrections * + Facebook + Twitter * + Search jobs + Digital Archive + Guardian Puzzles app + Guardian content licensing site * World * Europe * US * Americas * Asia * Australia * Middle East * Africa * Inequality * Global development Global development Africa's biggest photography library opens in Ghana Ghanaian photographer's crowdfunded project won support of Humans of New York author and boasts more than 30,000 books Paul Ninson at Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana on December 16, 2022. [ ] Paul Ninson at Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana. Photograph: Ernest Ankomah/The Guardian Paul Ninson at Dikan Center in Accra, Ghana. Photograph: Ernest Ankomah/The Guardian Global development is supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation About this content Ekow Barnes Tue 20 Dec 2022 02.30 ESTLast modified on Tue 20 Dec 2022 16.29 EST * * * The largest photography library in Africa has opened in Ghana's capital, Accra, showcasing the work of the continent and diaspora's forgotten, established and emerging talent. Founded by Ghanaian photographer and film-maker Paul Ninson, the Dikan Center houses more than 30,000 books he has collected. The first of its kind in Ghana, a photo studio and classrooms provide space for workshops while a fellowship programme is aimed at African documentarians and visual artists. An exhibition space will host regular shows, the first of which is Ahennie, a series by the late Ghanaian documentary photographer Emmanuel Bobbie (also known as Bob Pixel), who died in 2021. The bond-trader-turned-photographer Brandon Stanton, author of the book Humans of New York, who kickstarted the crowdfunding campaign that helped to establish the Dikan, attended the opening with Ninson, whom he met while the latter was living in New York. Visitors at the opening of the Dikan centre in Accra in December. Visitors at the opening of the Dikan Center in Accra in December. Photograph: Ernest Ankomah/The Guardian As well as books of work by pioneering black photographers, such as Gordon Parks, who was the first African American photographer to have a staff position at Life magazine, and publications including National Geographic, there are rare books including one signed by Stephen Hill, who was governor of Gold Coast as Ghana was known before independence, dated 1852. Ninson was studying at the School of the International Center of Photography in New York when he began collecting photography books. "I started buying African photo books, with the idea of sharing them with young photographers back home, but as my collection grew, it dawned on me that I could create a library dedicated to photography and visual education, so I started reaching out to booksellers for donations. I also received donations from private galleries and collectors," says Ninson. Visitors look at photo books in the Dikan Center collection during the opening. Visitors look at photo books in the collection during the opening. Photograph: Ernest Ankomah/The Guardian West Africa has a long history of photography, which was introduced by explorers and governors in the early 1840s. It was soon picked up by African entrepreneurs, who often worked as itinerant photographers, such as George Lutterodt, who ran pop-up studios and opened a business in Accra in 1876. In the 20th century, pioneering photographers - including renowned Malian portraitists Seydou Keita, and Malick Sidibe, and Ghanaian photojournalist James Barnor, who established Ghana's first colour processing lab - captured social, cultural and political changes through their work in the fashion and music worlds. Ninson's vision for Dikan, which means "take the lead" in Asante, is to celebrate this rich visual history and the accomplishments of African artists, as well as offering inspiration and resources to emerging photographers. Sign up to Global Dispatch Free newsletter Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. A visitor at the Ahennie exhibition of work by Emmanuel Bobbie at the Dikan Center. A visitor at the Ahennie exhibition of work by Emmanuel Bobbie. Photograph: Ernest Ankomah/The Guardian Rita Mawuena Benissan, a Ghanaian-American artist and founder of Si Hene, a non-profit foundation that collects archives telling stories about Ghana's royal history, welcomed the opening of the centre. "In a state where there are no archives for people to refer back to their history, it becomes very problematic. When you are able to have a point of reference, it's much easier. I'm excited and I can't wait to visit Dikan." Self-taught Ghanaian photographer and film-maker David Nana Opoku Ansah said the centre would "change everything" for emerging photographers. "[Until now] I have sourced most research materials on the internet. This centre will will be a treasure trove for image-makers like myself because it gives us the opportunity to dig deeper and create more meaningful work that stands the test of time." Topics * Global development * Ghana * Libraries * Photography * Race * Africa * Art and design books * news * * * * * * Reuse this content Most viewed Most viewed * World * Europe * US * Americas * Asia * Australia * Middle East * Africa * Inequality * Global development * News * Opinion * Sport * Culture * Lifestyle Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning Sign up for our email * About us * Help * Complaints & corrections * SecureDrop * Work for us * Privacy policy * Cookie policy * Terms & conditions * Contact us * All topics * All writers * Digital newspaper archive * Facebook * YouTube * Instagram * LinkedIn * Twitter * Newsletters * Advertise with us * Guardian Labs * Search jobs Back to top (c) 2022 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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