Kofi Ansah

Kofi Ansah was a Ghanaian fashion designer who helped put modern African design on the international stage. His work was known for quilting, embroidery and appliqué, and he founded the Federation of African Designers.

Early life and education

He was born on 6 July 1951 into an artistic family; his father was a photographer and classical musician. He studied at the Chelsea School of Art in London, graduating in 1979 with first-class honours in fashion design and a distinction in design technology.

Career

He first made his name in British fashion, making headlines on graduating when he made a beaded top for Princess Anne. In 1992 he returned to Ghana and set up Artdress, a design and creative concept company. Artdress won the Millennium 2000 African Fashion Awards and, in 2003, the Ghana Quality Awards Diamond Division for clothing and textiles. He designed the anniversary fabric for Ghana's 50th independence celebrations in 2007 and the costumes for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, and was chief designer at the 2009 Festival of African Fashion and Arts.

Family and death

He was married to Nicola Ansah and was the father of the actor Joey Ansah, Ryan Ansah and the visual artist Tanoa Sasraku. He died at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on 3 May 2014, aged 62, and his funeral was held at the State House forecourt in Accra. In 2015 the ETV Ghana Fashion Awards honoured him posthumously.