W.E.B. Du Bois’ Legacy: Philanthropist Aryiku Spearheads 4-Year Project with U.S. Library of Congress
By Rebecca Okine
For philanthropist and Executive Director of the W.E.B. Museum Foundation Japhet Aryiku, his lifelong admiration for W.E.B. Du Bois began at just 14 years old. While a student at Nungua Senior High School, he stumbled upon The Souls of Black Folk in the school library.
“During my time at Nungua Senior High School, we had a library period, and one day, I came across The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois,” he recalled.
So inspired was he that he spent the entire period memorising the first paragraph of the second chapter which read, “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line – the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea.”
Decades later, Aryiku is leading efforts to preserve Du Bois’ legacy in Ghana.
“To be doing something 62 years later for this man feels like God was talking to me,” he said speaking on Zed FM’s I Have a Story to Tell programme with Fritz Baffour.
A Vision for Du Bois’ Legacy
Motivated by his belief that Du Bois was one of the greatest African scholars, Aryiku made a commitment in 2015 to honour his legacy. He engaged prominent figures, including former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, playwright Efua Sutherland, and President John Mahama, who advised incorporating the Padmore Library into the project.
In 2019, Aryiku met with former president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and secured his approval for the redevelopment of the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre. However, progress was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Ghana’s 2020 elections.
Finally, on September 22, 2023, an agreement was signed, granting the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation, the authority to manage and develop the centre for 30 years, with an option to renew for another 20 years.
“We were tasked with financing it ourselves and employing Ghanaians to run the project,” Aryiku emphasised.
A Historic Partnership with the Library of Congress
A major step forward for the initiative is a newly secured four-year partnership with the U.S. Library of Congress. Under this agreement, the Library of Congress will provide expertise to help restore and preserve Du Bois’ vast collection of books, many of which have deteriorated over time.
The agreement also includes training programs for Ghanaians, allowing them to intern at the Library of Congress to gain hands-on experience in book preservation. Additionally, plans are underway to construct a new research library as part of a global fundraising campaign.
Advice to Young Ghanaians Considering Migration
Beyond his work on Du Bois’ legacy, Aryiku also offered advice to young Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad.
“I encourage the youth to go abroad to study and come back home,” he said. “The system has changed so much, and things are extremely difficult, so don’t just move—go there with a purpose.”
GEEP
In addition to his work with the Du Bois Foundation, Aryiku is also the driving force behind the Girls Enhancement Education Programme (GEEP), an initiative focused on helping young girls in rural communities pass their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“We noticed that one of the challenges facing young girls in villages is that they don’t have time to study,” Aryiku explained. “And when these girls don’t pass the BECE, they end up becoming second, third, or fourth wives to rich men in the village.”
Through GEEP, girls preparing for the BECE are selected with parental consent and brought to a special weekend boarding program, where they receive intensive tutoring from Friday to Sunday. The programme’s success sparked unexpected feedback from community members.
“The boys started to complain,” Aryiku said. “So now, we’ve expanded the project into the GPLusB programme, including boys and extending the duration to 15-16 weekends—all at no cost to students.”
With continued support from friends and benefactors, the initiative is changing lives, one student at a time.
Preserving a Legacy, Building the Future
Through the W.E.B. Du Bois Museum Foundation and GEEP, Japhet Aryiku is not only honouring the past but also shaping the future for young Ghanaians. His unwavering commitment ensures that the legacy of Du Bois remains a beacon of knowledge and empowerment for generations to come.
