In the heart of Accra, Paul Ninson’s Dikan Center is on an ambitious mission to reclaim and preserve Africa’s scattered history. What began as Ghana’s first photography library has blossomed into the Awo Institute, a dynamic hub dedicated to archiving and digitizing a vast range of African historical materials—from vinyl records and VHS tapes to rare manuscripts. Confronted by a lack of funding and prohibitively expensive equipment, Ninson ingeniously built his own archival machines by repurposing technology, dramatically cutting costs. With a team of 42 multi-skilled individuals, Dikan is creating a sustainable system for conservation, accessibility, and education. As Ninson puts it, the goal isn’t legacy: it is ensuring Africans have access to their own knowledge systems for generations to come.
OkayAfrica
