John Akar

John Joseph Akar (1927–1975) was a Sierra Leonean entertainer, writer, diplomat, and Broadway performer. Born in Rotifunk, in the Moyamba District of the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone, he was the son of an ethnic Sherbro mother and a Lebanese father. He received his early education at the E.U.B. primary school in Rotifunk before continuing his studies at Albert Academy secondary school in Freetown. Following the completion of his secondary education, he relocated to the United States.

Akar appeared on Broadway in 1956 in the drama Mister Johnson. His presence in the United States also extended to television, where he made repeated appearances as a guest on the Merv Griffin Show, known for his humor.

His career in Sierra Leone encompassed broadcasting, cultural leadership, and diplomacy. In 1960, he was appointed Director of Broadcasting of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services, becoming the first non-Creole and the first Sherbro person to hold that position. Three years later, in 1963, he founded the National Dance Troupe with the aim of fostering pride in Sierra Leonean cultural heritage among its people. The troupe gained international recognition when, in 1964, they were invited to perform at the New York World's Fair, where they received a plaque for giving the best performance of the fair. Later that same year, the troupe performed at an art festival in London, and in 1965 they appeared at the Negro Arts Festival in Dakar, Senegal. A four-month European tour followed in 1966, with performances in Germany, Sweden, and France.

Akar also served as Sierra Leone's ambassador to the United States. He is perhaps most widely recognized today as the composer of the music for Sierra Leone's National Anthem.