Ford, Arnold Josiah was born in Barbados in 1876 to Edward Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Augustine Ford. He grew up to became a musician in the British Royal Navy before settling in the United States
Talented as a linguist, poet, musician and composer of many UNIA songs, Ford co-authored "The Universal Ethiopian Anthem " with Benjamin E. Burrell . Ford officially functioned as director of UNIA Band, Orchestra, Band of the African Legion , and the Liberty Hall Choir. He published the Universal Ethiopian Hymnal in 1920.
Ford was also a prominent member of Harlem's Black Jews. He emigrated to Ethiopia in 1930 and died there in 1935.
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