Asadata Dafora
Asadata Dafora | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Austin Dafora Horton |
| Born | 4 August 1890 Freetown, British Sierra Leone |
| Died | 4 March 1965 (aged 74) Harlem, New York City |
| Genres | African drum music, dance music |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer, social activist |
| Years active | 1929–1960 |
Austin Dafora Horton (4 August 1890 – 4 March 1965), also known as Asadata Dafora, was a Sierra Leonean multi-faceted artist talented in music, opera and concert singing, dancing, choreographing and composing.
He was one of the first Africans to introduce African drumming music to the United States, beginning in the early 1930s and, in 1934, created Kykunkor (The Witch Woman) a successful musical/drama production using authentic African music and dance and is considered one of the pioneers of black dance in America.
Dafora is best remembered for his work in dance and music.