By John Owoo

(At the Kempinski Hotel – Accra)

An exhibition of works by Ghanaian painter Jeremiah Quarshie that comprise sophisticated portraits characterized by distinctive realism is closing at Gallery 1957, which is located at the Kempinsky Hotel in Accra.

Titled “Yellow is the Colour of Water”, paintings on display revolve around water and the ever-present yellow plastic gallons that permeate all parts of Accra thereby vividly revealing one of the problems facing the city.

Indeed, his multifaceted and intricate portraits of people from all walks of life, who he gracefully places on “thrones” of gallons, reinforce the importance of this resource, which requires effective management and control.

These include images of his grandmother, footballers, laborers, nurses, pregnant women, market mummies, expatriates and several others who elegantly perch on these colourful gallons thereby exposing the contradictions that border on the quality of water and its availability.

Employing features of studio photography and a distinctive painterly language coupled with a subtle appropriation of traditions of the old masters, Quarshie effectively questions the construction of imagery and the boundaries of portraiture.

Curated by Robin Riskin, the exhibition is in a range of media formats and set across a network of site-specific mediations. These include Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Bus Station where gallons equally take the role of backdrops, props and chairs.

Educated at the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi), Quarshie’s work takes its history from social illogicalities in contemporary life while negotiating anxieties with satire and lightness.

He has participated in several group exhibitions – these include National Museum of Science and Technology, Prime Motors Ltd, Goethe-Institut, La Villa Boutique Hotel, Nubuke Foundation (Ghana), Villa Mohr (Germany), Sabi Yu Rutu (Suriname), and the Stedelijk Museum Bureau (The Netherlands).

Gallery 1957, which was founded by art collector Marwan Zakhem, is a new gallery with a curatorial focus on contemporary Ghanaian art presenting a programme of exhibitions, installations and performances by Ghana’s most significant artists.

The exhibition ends on Saturday October 22.

By John Owoo

(On the hills of Dodowa – Ghana)

An international group of artists and academics last week presented a devised group work that portrayed issues relating to borders, checkpoints and language at the Noyam Theatre in Dodowa, near Accra.

Titled “Broken Word, Broken World”, this impressive dance drama is visually stimulating with dancers engaging in highly expressive and imaginative movements that helped unfold the dilemma of language barriers and its effects on diverse activities.

Employing elements of earth, water, fire and wind, the “language” of directors Gameli Tordzro (Scotland/Ghana), Tawona Sithole (Scotland/Zimbabwe) and choreographer Nii Tete Yartey (Ghana) is compelling and limitless – and was clearly visible through swift and subtle movements on stage.

“This production is more than entertainment – it explores varied issues some of which border on traditions, values, beliefs and culture – it is an astounding artistic creation and I hope this collaboration continues in the years to come”, said Danny Clerk, a cultural journalist in Accra.

Accompanied by passionate and contemporary tunes from flute magician Dela Botri (Ghana), saxophonist Katrine Suwalski (Denmark), flutist Simon Winse (France/Burkina Faso), percussionists Sam Tachie / Alfred Tamakloe (Ghana/Denmark) and Kalimba player Clare Robertson (Scotland), the group put up a rather brave, bold and sophisticated performance that attracted the imagination of the audience.

Interspersed with Ghanaian traditional dances such as Takai, Adzogbo, Kpanlogo, Fume Fume as well as Ewe / Akan drum accompaniments, the versatility of the young dancers was vividly revealed as their agile bodies attempted to interpret and translate multilingualism and its related issues.

“This is a dance drama shaped by moods and motives, it is exciting to see young Ghanaian dancers physically and emotionally imbed themselves in the piece as they share the passion of the directors and choreographer”, added Adzo Adibie, a dancer in Accra.

Funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the production equally made forays into Translating Cultures by studying the role of translation in the transmission, interpretation, transformation and sharing of languages, values, beliefs, histories and narratives.

Other members of the team of researchers for the project include Scottish principal investigator Prof. Allison Phipps, German technical designer Kai Fischer, Ghanaian Costume designer Naa Dansua Torzdro and German applied theatre researcher Dr. Katja Frimberger among others.

By John Owoo

(Accra International Conference Centre) 

 The Accra Symphony Orchestra (ASO) last week easily attracted over two- dozen octogenarians to its maiden public concert at the Accra International Conference Centre.

This brings into sharp focus the failure of arts / entertainment industry players in Ghana to tailor events for the elderly, who have been completely ignored in most of the recent artistic creations.

Performing alongside vocal group Lumina, ASO charmed the capacity audience with epic compositions and re-compositions that resemble great climaxes of sound while fluid tone colours flowed with relative ease.

“In the midst of constant dark news from the media, a concert of such enlightenment asserted itself – I have not seen a performance of this nature for over a decade and I have no regrets for doing so tonight” said Ebo Donkor, a retired pharmacist in Accra.

Conducted by Benedictus Acolatse, whose technical and interpretational capabilities surprised the audience, there was a cool interplay between the orchestra and the opera singers – a feat, which Acolatse proved adept with his balancing skills.

With awe inspiring precision, passion and musicality from the Lumina singers, the orchestra wooed the crowd with its explorations into the music of the afro rock group Osibisa, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango and late Afro Beat King Fela Kuti as the singers displayed high vocal standards with voices that endeared the audience with raw pleasure.

Notwithstanding a rather high sound from the singers, the instruments were in spectacular form for the interweaving performance – thereby ensuring that the orchestra and singers were not so much in contention – but in a fruitful collaboration.

“This is a witty, delightful and sparkling concert – successful classical / operatic shows have to do with expression – and the communication was clear while the tightness of the orchestra never faltered”, added Ian Lambeth, an arts promoter on holidays from the United Kingdom.

An imaginative, tasteful and highly entertaining concert, ASO’s interpretation of Osibisa’s classic tune “Woyaya” brought nostalgic feelings to the audience as they recalled this famous tune which served as a signature tune for Osofo Dadzie series, which run on local TV in the 1970s.

With such a magnetic entry into the arts scene in Ghana, ASO will certainly be on the watch list of promoters, critics and other orchestras outside the country. Capital Bank, Daily Graphic, Joy FM, Citi FM, TV 3 and www.artsghana.org supported the concert.

Pictures – Charter House

By John Owoo

(National Theatre – Accra)

The National Dance Company of Ghana last week presented a stunning rendition of “Asipim”, a piece comprising a dramatic fusion of various traditional Ghanaian dances at the National Theatre in Accra.

Employing wide-ranging movements from Northern and Southern Ghanaian dance forms, the artists unveiled a story of greed, gallantry, war, peace, spiritual warfare and struggles for power amidst cheers from the audience.

Accompanied by an assortment of African percussive instruments and xylophones, the group through a striking performance managed to express in a refined way, the beauty and diversity of traditional Ghanaian dance forms.

Directed by Nii Tete Yartey, the performance was a fascinating diversity of movements and a subtle exploration of interactions between conventional and modern dances while revealing the significance of both.

“It is fascinating to see a wide variety of our traditional dance pieces theatrically put together in a manner that vividly showcases unity in diversity. It was purely traditional but laced with contemporary elements”, said Yaw Opoku Addo, a poet in Accra.

“This is a show with rhythm – the singing, dancing and drumming converged and rose to the roof. It was an evening of spectacular and fast moving scenes”, added Elvia Hayes, a volunteer from the United Kingdom.

An allegory about the struggle for leadership in Sub Saharan Africa, ‘Asipim”, is interspersed with ritualistic dances that equally highlighted the issue of super natural battles. Undeniably, it is rich in musical and dramatic nuance and actually rises to the scale of the set design.

With a near bare but outstanding scenography, which comprise a King’s stool and giant umbrellas alongside over two dozen dancers and musicians, the choreography is quite elaborate with bodies crafted by years of training engaging in fluid and swift movements.

Stylistically, the late F. Nii Yartey, who co-choreographed the piece with Prof. CK Ladzekpo, has deeply steeped himself in the language of dance – often reinventing it with a rhythmic and visceral weight, thereby unleashing a new gestural vocabulary.

The performance formed part of the 2016 edition of Ghana Theatre Festival, which ended last week at the National Theatre in Accra.

By John Owoo

(In Accra)

“Music Across Borders”, a documentary film by the Ghanaian filmmaker / composer Gameli Tordzro last week premiered at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon.

Shot in Ghana, Scotland and Denmark, the 45-minute film, which centres on Danish saxophonist Katrin Suwalski, explores how music cuts across physical and mental borders, power of languages and its impact on both artists and the public at large.

The film, which forms part of a research into “Creative Arts and Translating Cultures”, equally makes allusions to migration in the light of the ongoing risky trips amidst loss of life by migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.

Employing Ewe, Danish and English, languages, Tordzro ensures the emotional, spiritual and multi cultural essence of the documentary vividly pops up at the viewer as artist after artist narrates his / her experience with music collaborations that cross borders.

Interspersed with scenes of performances and rehearsals, percussionist Ayi Solomon (Denmark/Ghana), singer/composer Elivava Mensah (Ghana), percussionist Odomankoma Okyerema Pra (Ghana) and others join Sulwalski in recalling a journey she made over twenty years ago to Ghana, which resulted collaborations that were musically and spiritually rewarding.

Solomon, who is a member of Suwalski’s band “Another World”, joined her on a tour of Ghana in 2008, which was full of reminiscence of her previous trip and it’s positive influence on her career as a musician. Indeed, Suwalski relived her first visit with further performances in Cape Coast and Accra.

In spite of some limitations, there is big-heartedness at the film’s core that comes across powerfully while revealing the uncanny flow of energy among artistes notwithstanding their background, culture or country of origin.

Music Across Borders forms part of a wider study on the role of translation – understood in its broadest sense in transmission, interpretation and transformation – as well as sharing of languages, values, beliefs, histories and narratives.

Others are research interpreting, translation and multilingual practices in challenging contexts at the borders of language, body, law and state as well as evaluating appropriate research methods (traditional and arts-based) and develop theoretical approaches for this type of academic exploration.

By Kouame Koulibaly

Renowned ethnomusicologist and composer, Emeritus Prof. J.H. Kwabena Nketia, has said  Agya Koo Nimo’s  legacy of  beautiful music and  unique way of playing the guitar  must be preserved  in our educational system.

Speaking at the launch of a 315-page book titled “Six Strings and a Note, Legendary Agya Koo Nimo in His Own Words”, at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Prof Nketia described the launch as a landmark event in honour of a man with a deep affection for his culture and country.

“The man’s legacy must be institutionalized so there is a bit of  Agya Koo Nimo that people must learn when  they go to music school or take music courses. I would like everyone to think about it because the man  cannot do that by himself ,” Prof. Nketia stated. The book was written by Mr E. Obeng-Amoako Edwards, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in Texas, United States and Accra. Prof. Nketia wrote the book’s foreword.

Born Kwabena Boa-Amponsem 85 years ago, Agya Koo Nimo has collected numerous accolades locally and internationally for his unique compositions. In the book, the author carefully travels through Agya Koo Nimo’s early memories in Foase, a small village in the Ashanti Region; and his encounter with Mr. Daniel K. Sam, a catechist who taught him to play the organ, and eventually exposing him to music in addition to what he had learned from his parents.

The book also takes interesting turns through the philosophy woven through Agya Koo Nimo’s being, and the psychology behind the music he creates. Speaking on “The Koo Nimo I Know” at the launch, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, Vice Chancellor of the Central University said Agya Koo Nimo was “the epitome of indigenous learning and philosophy allied with a rare capacity to lucidly convey his thoughts in diverse forums, traditional settings and contemporary academic settings.” He said Agya Koo Nimo’s intimacy with his guitar cannot be mistaken as a metaphor.

“He confesses visualizing the acoustic guitar as an ideal female body that deserves gentle handling and cuddling. Never a coarse stroke or rough handling from Agya Koo Nimo’s fingers,” Prof. Yankah stated. He described “Six Strings and a Note” as “a rare treasure in which the life of the legend is painstakingly recounted.”

The book’s author said it had been an interesting journey working on the book over the last four years and that it was necessary for Ghanaians to embrace their history and heroes.

“If we don’t know where we are coming from, it is almost impossible to identify where we are going,” Mr Edwards said. Copies of the book were available at the launch and  popular music star, Kojo Antwi bought the first copy  when it was auctioned by emcee for the event, KSM.

“Agya Koo Nimo is a man I cherish so much for what he has done for our music and our country. He is a hero who has inspired me and others in many ways  and I’ll  always treasure him,” Kojo Antwi said.

The launch event was punctuated with performances by Agya Koo Nimo as well as the seprewa players, Osei Korankye and his 16-year-old daughter, Abena Serwaa. Agya Koo Nimo is well known for songs such as ‘Aburokyire Abrabo’, ‘Naa Densua’, ‘Akura Dua Kube’, ‘Ohia Ye Ya’, ‘Odo Akosombo’ and ‘Efie Ni Fie’.

By John Owoo

(In Vejle – Denmark)

A number of Danish cities and towns in the Jutland region recently turned colorful with highly magnetic performances by folk music and dance groups from several countries.

Performing as part of the 2016 edition of the Triangle Folklore Festival, groups from Latvia, Italy, Indonesia, Taiwan, Serbia, Denmark and the United States among others, they powerfully showcased the similarities and indeed the differences of European folk music and dance.

With music characterized by a strop/lie structure and lines that are repeated several times – each time with different words – the dancers follow in unison as they move in various directions amidst flying and hovering of costumes.

“It is a memorable event performed by marvelous artists – some of whom have international acclaim – I was extremely delighted with the classical folk dances and the colourful costumes”, said Mette Nielsen, an anthropologist in the town of Vibourg.

With dance episodes piling up with irresistibly increasing urgency during most of the performances – the audience, majority of whom are elderly, simply immersed themselves in the performances as rain and winds turned into an integral part of the outdoor performances.

With accordions, guitars, violins, drums, harps, banjos, flutes, horns alongside vocals, music from the various groups often appeared to be a stream of entrancing sound in which long tones drift across vocal laments alongside thudding low drumbeats and shy sax interjections.

With violinist Steffan Søgaard Sørensen and guitarist Peter Eget Hansen opening performances of gala shows in theatres, the scene is always set for a magical display of the richness, similarities and diversity of folk music and dance forms, which inundate the cities and towns of Jutland every third year.

“The music is sophisticated and atmospheric – it veers between ambient and soul styles – it is pleasant rather than exciting – I always look forward to this festival”, added Henrik Henriksen, a retired doctor in city of Vejle.

The initiative to initiate the Triangle Folklore Festival came from Rejseholdet, a dance group of young dancers and musicians, who toured the world showcasing Danish folk music and dance.

By John Owoo

(At large in the forests of Ramten Skov – Denmark)

Unrestrained rain, cold winds, sun and darkness interspersed the 2016 edition of Utamaduni Camp, which has over the past thirty four years presented the magic of traditional African festivals in Denmark.

Held in the pristine forests of Ramten Skov, located in the Midtjylland region of Denmark, the scene is reminiscent of a simulated African village with huts, tents of diverse shapes and sizes, colourful clothes, drums, craft shops and people with love for culture.

Traditional drums from Eastern and Western Africa pound the crisp air while Danish dancers clad in flamboyant costumes embellished with feathers and beads move in unison as fellow campers cheer and relish near impeccable African dance movements.

“I have been a regular participant of the “Utamaduni” Camp for several years – it is a soul searching moment – it enables me to reconnect with my inner self, those around me and indeed the universe”, says Mia Petterson, a shop assistant in Aarhus, Denmark’s second city.

Pulsating rhythms from wooden drums appear to harmonize with the tranquil forest atmosphere as group after group showcases its skills in traditional African drumming and dance – especially Tanzanian dance forms.

They move in circles as they perform, often ignoring the heavy rain, which inevitably becomes part of the performances that equally encompass ritualistic dances, chants and incantations.

Undeniably, interactive engagements, workshops in African music, dance and songs alongside sales of rich hand woven fabric / textile and collectible artifacts are a regular feature as people congregate for an experience of African spirituality and wellness.

“It is a gathering, a feast and a wonderful celebration of African culture with only acoustic traditional instruments. We need it to strengthen our connections to culture, nature, ourselves and with each other. Indeed, it’s a chance for Danish nationals to meet and commemorate African culture with Africans”, adds Camilla Nielsen-Englyst, an international NGO advisor in the Danish Capital Copenhagen.

“Utamaduni”, a swahili word meaning “culture”, was adopted by a dance troupe after a Danish cultural exchange with the Tanzanian tribe of Sukuma in 1977. Dubbed “Daraja la Utamaduni” (the cultural bridge), the Danes also performed their traditional dances during the project.

From that embryonic beginning of a cultural exchange, rich and fertile images of African culture are absorbed by Danes courtesy of the Sukuma people. Since then “Utamaduni” has woven from a tapestry of dance, drum and song rhythms into a bond of friendship.

By John Owoo

(In Copenhagen – Denmark)

Ace Ghanaian drummer Ayi Solomon and the Ghanaian-Belgian flutist Esinam Dogbatse took turns at the just ended Copenhagen Jazz festival with a magnetic show that charmed patrons at the Music Cafe in Copenhagen.

Alongside Danish guitarist John Sund, the duo sent the audience at one of the World Scene Platforms on a cool musical journey that terminated with brilliantly shaped original material laced with Ghanaian rhythms.

With a crafty ability to play diverse percussive instruments on stage, Solomon and Sund varied their repertoire and style with a subtle / clear progression – individually and collectively.

The two musicians allowed themselves to break loose with short but dramatic solos that are full of finesse and force while making a strong point that an exceptional drummer or saxophonist can provide a unique and expansive vision on stage.

“Ayi Solomon never ceases to amaze me – he is without doubt an innovative artist with imaginative rhythms that ensure constant energy on stage. It was a memorable night”, said Lene Merethe Jacobsen, a social worker in Copenhagen.

Earlier Belgium based flutist Esinam Dogbatse rocked the audience with a stimulating flute work that tended to reflect the echo of an open landscape while digging deep into Ghanaian traditional rhythms.

Employing the loop, flute and percussive instruments, Dogbatse went into her own world and dished out tunes that captured the imagination of the audience, who cheered and applauded in response.

Undeniably, she appears as an exceptional improviser as she employs local Ghanaian drums and shakers thereby creating a close awareness of the deep connections between her music and her Ghanaian heritage.

“Esinam is set to hit the world music scene by storm – she displayed a monumental sense of dedication and stagecraft – she was having a great time on stage and managed to transfer it to the audience”, added Klaus Christiansen, a music promoter in Albertslund, near Copenhagen.

Dogbatse is expected to arrive in Ghana in the next few months for a number of workshops and performances.

By John Owoo

(In Palermo – Italy)

Hip Hop / Afro Blues star Trigmatic together with musicians from Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ghana last week showcased the beauty and power of cross cultural collaboration during a concert in the Italian city of Palermo.

Performing at Sanlorenzo Marcato, during the final seminar of Project BOEMI, the group through a dynamic interplay of auditory and visual modalities, showcased how music moves through emotional and perceptive responses as they flowed freely with each other.

With Mavis Sintim-Aboagye (vocals), Fatima Pérez Robledo (piano), Miguel Almeida (bass), Miguel Ruiz de Elvira (guitar), Helene Tungelund (vocals), Cecilia Begueria (violin) Iris Jugo (cello), Peter Suwalski (drums) and Pablo Barianga Blanquez (keyboard), the multi national group swayed the audience with its culturally linked style as cheers erupted among the evening revellers.

Comprising Blues/Hiphop tunes from Trigmatic, Highlife / traditional Ghanaian songs from Sintim-Aboagye, traditional Danish ballads from Tungelund as well as improvised rhythms from the Portuguese and Spanish musicians, the group attested that lyrics and beats from diverse cultures can tightly fit into each other.

The seminar, among other things dilated on media skills and their diffusion among the youth as well as cultivating and valorising the practice of Reciprocal Maieutic Approach in the field of music – which would be employed as a technique for youth empowerment and social transformation.

Moderated by Antonella Alessi, Giovanni Barbieri, Paula Litez, Florian Giraudo and Giulia Tarantino, the seminar equally touched on building employment skills and its subsequent dissemination to young people with limited opportunities.

BOEMI (Building Our Employment skills through Music Investigations and New Media) is an innovative capacity building project involving five partners – Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo “Danilo Dolci” (Italy), Crossing Borders (Denmark), IYEC (Ghana), Jeunesse En Action “GNO FAR” (Senegal) and Asociación para la Integración y Progreso de las Culturas Pandora (Spain).

The project aims at promoting transnational non-formal learning mobility activities between different countries, targeting less privileged youth / youth workers in a bid to increase their competences and active participation in society.

BOEMI aims particularly at growing youth self-esteem and feeling of belonging to society, increasing the confidence in their “unique selling points” and transforming their interest in music into employable skills.

The project also intends to empower organizations working for the youth, developing new working methods, tools and materials based on non-formal education and experimenting music as an educational pedagogical tool.