Felicia Abban Ghana's first female professional photographer Date of Birth: 01.01.1935

1. Early Life and Training
2. Pioneering Woman Photographer
3. Influences and Evolution
4. Legacy and Recognition
5. Retirement and Death

Early Life and Training

Felicia Abban, born in 1935, grew up in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, exhibiting a keen interest in photography from a young age. As the eldest of six children, she became her father, J. E. Ansah, a renowned photographer's apprentice at the age of 14. Over the next four years, she honed her skills, eventually opening her own studio in Accra at the age of 18.

Pioneering Woman Photographer

In 1955, Felicia Abban emerged as Ghana's first female professional photographer. She established "Mrs. Felicia Abban’s Day and Night Quality Art Studio" in Jamestown, Accra, where her husband, Robert Abban, played a significant role in her success. The studio became renowned for its portraiture, capturing the essence of the newly independent nation. Abban's work was frequently published in "Geine Press Limited" (now "The Ghana Times"), contributing to the documentation of Ghana's political and social transformation.

Influences and Evolution

Felicia Abban's early career was influenced by established studios such as Bruce Vanderpuye's "Deo Gratias" and James Barnor's "Ever Young Studio." However, her unique perspective and style set her apart. Abban's self-portraits, particularly those taken between the 1950s and 1970s, exhibited an innovative use of clothing to express female identity.

Legacy and Recognition

Felicia Abban's works have gained significant recognition in recent years. In 2017, Gallery ANO organized her first major exhibition, highlighting her fashion photography and its socio-political context. Her studio is slated to be transformed into a museum in her honor. Abban's inclusion in the 2019 Ghana Freedom Pavilion at the Venice Biennale further cemented her legacy as a trailblazing artist.

Retirement and Death

Felicia Abban retired from photography due to health issues related to arthritis. She passed away on January 4, 2024. Her contributions to Ghanaian photography and her pioneering role as a woman photographer continue to inspire and empower generations to come.