Joe Cobbinah Bio

Joe Cobbinah

Dafcogallery of African art was launched in 1996 by Joe Cobbinah (a.k.a.Kwaku), President/CEO, who was born in Ghana, in African traditional way around local chiefs. At a very early age, I was taught to believe that African sculptures, masks, and other household objects, even though functional, serve to promote life and secure the well being of individuals, the family and the community. After my elementary and secondary education, I worked for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Accra, while volunteering my services at the Ghana National Museum to learn about African antiquities.

Very ambitious in life, i decided to further my education in the United States of America. During my student days at Rochester Institute of Technology, I would go home to visit my parents in Ghana, between semesters. Upon returning to school i would bring a few African art pieces as gifts; but then, students and professors began to put in orders for those giraffes and masks ……and these people were willing to pay. I then said to myself, "hey, I am a businessman now.”

With my degree in Business Administration and knowledge in International Trade, I worked for several companies, including (HIRE) "Helping Industries Hire Reliable Employees," a subsidiary of (AHRC) Association for the Help of Mentally Challenged. Some of the incentives for hiring each person was  a ( $3,000.00) three thousand dollars tax credit for the company, from New York State, and their soft skills. My four years' experience working with these individuals was very rewarding. After leaving my employment at AHRC, i decided to work for myself.

Armed with my contacts and knowledge in African antiquities, I opened my first African art gallery in Soho side of Manhattan, New York in 1997. In January 2001, I closed the store and in July 2001, I opened Dafco’s Gallery of African art on 193 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, New York.

After 12 years in the same location, I secured a space in March of 2013, in the prestigious Westchester Art Exchange Building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 601, White Plains, New York, selling one-of-a-kind, museum quality fine African art.