Kojo Kamau

Kojo Kamau (October 11, 1939––December 12, 2016) was an American photographer and gallerist based in Columbus, Ohio.

Early life and education Kojo Kamau was born Robert Jones Jr. on October 11, 1939 on the East Side of Columbus, Ohio.

He was a schoolmate of Aminah Robinson at East High School, where he took all kinds of art classes, and graduated in 1957.

Career In 1964, Kamau returned to Columbus, where he married and changed his name to Kojo Kamau. Kojo meant "unconquerable" in Yoruba and Kamau, "quiet one." He divorced in 1970. Williams was a professor of theater and communication in the Black studies department and the host of the WOSU TV show Afromation where he would take the publicity photos for guests. As the gallery became a respected destination for Black art in Columbus, it collaborated with various institutions such as Ohio State's Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center, the King Arts Complex, and the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. It also expanded its offerings with community programming and the outdoor art festival Afro Fair. His documentary photography sought to change the misperceptions of Black Americans, and show the human side of people and positive documentation of their lifestyle. His work has been exhibited at the Columbus Museum of Art, the Chicago Center of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Later career and death In 1997, Kamau began to focus more on his role as an instructor at Columbus State Community College. He closed ACE's Short North location in 1999 after its 20-year anniversary but continued to occasionally put on exhibitions around the city.

Kamau died at the age of 77 on December 12, 2016.