Obituaries Kwami Emmanuel Avafia K


wami Emmanuel Avafia was born in Ghana’s Volta region on 27 July 1940 and attended Mawuli Secondary School where he developed a life-long appreciation for education. His father’s untimely death in 1958 had a profound impact on a young Kwami.


Nonetheless, he successfully completed the Diploma course in Library Studies in 1962 and gained admission to the University of Ghana Legon in 1963. He later graduated from the University of Ghana Legon with a BA in Sociology with Honours and was recruited by the University of Ghana’s Balme Library as a Junior Assistant Librarian in 1966. Driven by the desire to strengthen access to information in developing countries and to gain international


experience, Kwami took up an assignment in Lusaka as an Assistant Librarian with the University of Zambia in 1968 where he worked under the capable leadership of Tony Loveday. There, he developed an interest in subject specialisation in developing countries. Described as “the man with itchy feet”, he then joined Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda in 1970. He joined the University of the West Indies Library in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in early 1973 shortly after marry- ing his wife, Mana. Kwami and his young family moved to the University of Papua New Guinea until 1977. During his time in Papua New Guinea, Kwami qualified as a Chartered Librarian and penned several more academic articles in his field. These include a study of Library Development in Papua New Guinea. After a stint back with the University of Ghana in the late 1970s he took up a post as Principal University Librarian at the University of Jos in Nigeria in 1981, followed by a promotion two years later to the position of Deputy University Librarian where he penned a number of articles on the evolution of sub- ject specialisation in African university libraries. After four years in Nigeria, he moved to the University of Botswana in Gaborone and in late 1989, he took an assignment


Roy Huse R


oy Huse was a highly successful – if somewhat formi- dable – County Librarian for us in West Sussex, whose reputation was sustained in our service long after his retirement in 1992.


We were saddened to learn of his passing in February 2024, but heartened to hear from his family how his library career remained uppermost in his mind throughout his long retirement. We were honoured to play a part in celebrating all that he had achieved at the service of thanksgiving for his life in March. Roy began his career in libraries as a Library Assistant with Kingston-upon-Thames Borough Council in 1946, moving to Surrey County Council in the 1950s to take up a Branch Librarian post. He continued to gain promotions with authorities across the Greater London region in the 1960s, becoming Deputy Borough Librarian in Barnet by 1968.


Following the retirement of the Rev Gordon Bearman in 1970, Roy became the third County Librarian for West Sussex County


54 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL


Council, aged just 39, moving to the coun- ty from Sunbury-on-Thames, with his wife Jeanne and sons, David and Alan. Roy assumed the leadership of the service in West Sussex at an exciting and transform- ative time. Without doubt, the pioneering work, conceived in the late 1960s and developed through the early 1970s, to establish a fully integrated computer system secured West Sussex Library Service


a place in the annals of public library history. In the years that fol- lowed, the use of computers was extended greatly, developments which helped to provide a more efficient and cost-effective service. It also fell to Roy to pilot West Sussex Library Service through local government reorganisation in 1974, where the resident pop- ulation to be served increased by almost 50 per cent. The enlarged operation acquired 12 libraries and their staff, all of which needed


June 2024


in what was soon to become an independent Namibia. The early 1990s were an exciting time to be in Namibia as a new democracy was forged and took shape, as did a new University. In 1992, Kwami qualified as a Fellow of the British Library Association He was also appointed the University Librarian and a member of the six-person Management Com- mittee of the University of Namibia (UNAM), a position he held until his retirement in 2000. During this time, Kwami took up the challenging task of laying the foundation for the UNAM Library and information services while addressing the gaps identified in the library support and information services. His leadership of the UNAM Library coincided with the planning for the new hybrid library which was considered appropriate for learning in the new era, an information and learning centre. His leadership positioned the UNAM Library on an equal footing with many academic libraries in Africa and beyond and he worked relentlessly to strengthen the capacity of librarians while cultivating the next generation of leaders. Kwami and Mana relocated to Ghana, returning to Namibia regularly for months at a time. After adjusting to retirement, Kwami settled into the next phase of life and derived much pleasure being actively involved in community affairs. His lively and gregarious character attracted a wide circle of friends, many of whom remained close for a lifetime. While in Namibia in late 2020, Kwami was diagnosed with a serious illness and he passed away on 27 June 2021 after an exacting but valiant fight. Family and community were important cornerstones and he dedicated much of his time to both. He also remained a passionate proponent of education. As stated in a tribute to him by one of his mentees, Dr Joseph Ndinoshiho, Kwami would be remembered as a passionate educator, a skilful negotiator, an innovative intellectual, a servant to all, a strong advocate for equitable and quality information services, an active team player, a professional librarian, an excellent teacher, mentor and above all, a selfless individual with a great sense of humour. Kwami is survived by his wife of 48 years Mana and three children.


Fafa Avafia, daughter


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60