If you have been searching and wondering about the origin of the now-famous young African boy seated at a desk, with a pensive look on his face, frantically writing on a piece of paper, your search is finally over.
The boy’s name is Jake Amo. The picture is currently amongst one of the continent’s most famous and widely shared memes, and it was taken by Carlos Cortes, an award winning photographer from Chicago, in America, during a charity programme in Ghana.
This photo has for a while now “given life” to many social media users, and it continues to set tongues wagging on the Internet.
The image of the 4 year-old boy was shared by Ghanaian artist, Solomon Adufah, ThisisAfrica reports.
Adufah shared the picture on Instagram in January 2016 as part of the artist’s ‘homeland series’ where he travels to various communities in Ghana, and other African countries to help underprivileged children in local communities, providing them with resources and teaching creative studies workshops.
Jake is from the village of Asempanaye, Koforidua, in Ghana. The iconic image was taken in August 2015 during Adufah’s visit to his home country Ghana and the artist taught and mentored creative studies and art at Jake’s school in Asempanaye Village.
Speaking to ThisisAfrica about his journey and experience with the children Adufah said “We spent everyday in class drawing and expanding our creative imaginations. All the children were very eager to learn and ask questions. They wanted to know so much”.
On Jake’s picture, the one which has gone viral, Adufar wrote: “I’ve experienced first hand the impact just the little act of kindness can make in the lives of the less privileged. The amount of joy and happiness they have in their heart despite their living conditions speaks volume about their inner beauty”.
“Jake was one of the children I taught in Ghana. He was always gentle and quiet.. Ever present in class and was eager to learn everyday. That’s what I loved about all the children. Their enthusiasm and high spirit was refreshing and encouraged me to continue helping them,” Adufah noted.
Adufah says he hopes the image will be a force for positive change, which can transform the life of Jake and the other children. Adufah has started a fundraising campaign for Jake and his classmates.
“I will be returning back to Ghana June of 2017 to continue working with the children and also providing resources for them”.
“My ultimate goal is to build an art school in Ghana or a community Art Center to help children with after school programs,” Adufah told ThisisAfrica
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marvin@ugchristiannews.com
