Faculty Report
Template
Name John Charles Flood
Faculty/Rank Lecturer
Department Music and Dance
College College of Professional Studies and
Fine Arts
Office
phone 594 - 7452
Other
phone 374 - 5643
E mail address drumflood@aol.com
Proposal
title Fieldwork in
traditional cultures of Ghana and Togo
Countries
visited Ghana and Togo
Institutions
visited National Theatre of
Ghana; Univerisity of Ghana, Legon; University of
Cape Coast;
Center for National Culture, Volta Region
Dates
of travel July 20 - August 8,
2001
Number
of student participants: 7 students, 3
faculty, 1 staff, 1 alumni
Previous
IP proposals submitted and grants awarded (list titles, countries and dates):
International Travel Grant from SDSU
1999, Ghana; July 19 - August 18, 1999
Have
all required reports been submitted? Yes
Other
funding for this activity available/applied for: none
Proposal
Abstract (75 word maximum):
John
Flood led a group of eleven faculty and students to Ghana and Togo from July 20
to August 8, 2001. The group traveled to Accra, Cape Coast, Ho, Ghana and
Aneho, Togo under the direction of Dr. Komla Amoaku, Executive Director of the
National Theatre of Ghana . The group received lectures from such notables such
as J. H. Nketia, Director of ICAMD, Univeristy of Ghana and attended workshops
in music and dance with students and faculty of the University of Ghana, Cape
Coast, Agoro Project and traditional artists in Aneho, Togo.
Travel report:
I. Opening/overview of
intentions/activity
This is the second summer that students and
faculty have traveled to Ghana, West Africa for workshops in traditional arts.
The Summer 2001 program expanded upon the experiences of Summer 1999 with the
addition of more lectures from the University of Ghana and Cape Coast. There
was more emphasis on the cultural context of the activities with a direct
correlation between the lectures and activities. Togo was an important addition
to the iteneray as the group could experience firsthand the impacts of France
and Great Britain on the Ewe community. It was also the first time that
additional faculty, Dr. Lewis Peterman and Prof. Danlee Mitchell, traveled
along with the students. The schedule was very intense with morning and
afternoon classes in music, dance and other arts interspersed with field trips
to traditional areas, the Cape Coast castle, Panafest music festival, market
days and interaction with local people.
II. In preparation for the trip abroad
- collaborated with ……….
Dr. Komla Amoaku, Executive
Director, National Theatre of Ghana
Korkor Amarteifio, Program
Coordinater, National Theatre of Ghana
Cornelius Wussah, Program
Assistant, National Theatre of Ghana
NationalTheatre@ighmail.com
Kwame Degbor,
Centre for National Culture, Ho, Volta Region
Dancedeg@nexas.africaonline.com.gh
Willie Anku,
Chairman of Music Department, University of Ghana, Legon
wanku@ug.edu.gh
Kwesi Quayson,
Directer of Agoro Project, Cape Coast
k_quayson@hotmail.com
Razak Alhassan,
Ghana Tourist Board, Tamale
ghalesy@yahoo.com
- e mail contacts see
above
- researched university statistics and compared to SDSU(e.g.
number of students enrolled,
Established on previous tour, summer 1999
- confirmed that prospective university is “recognized” by the
Ministry of Education
Established on previous tour, summer
1999
III. Upon arrival/specific
activity
- What/who are the contacts made at the prospective partner
university?
J. H. Nketia, Director of ICAMD, Universty of Ghana Institute
of African Studies
Dr. William Anku, Chairman, Music Department, University of
Ghana, Legon
Kwesi Quayson, Directer of Agoro
Project, Cape Coast
- What particular major/minor is of interest?
On this trip we had students of various academic interest
in attendance. A sample of the majors are a nutrition major, a liberal arts
major, business major, music major, and social science.
IV. Conclusion,
recommendation, and next step?
- Why is this particular institution valuable for SDSU?
As demonstrated over the past two summers, there is high
student and faculty interest in traveling to Ghana during the summer break. The
students received scholorships from the Office of International Scholorship,
and Phi Beta Delta International Scholorship as well as Coca Cola Scholorships
in the previous summer. This summer students were able to receive credit from
Dr. Peterman for independant study. I think that this trip should be offered as
a short term summer course. The students have already encouraged a high
interest in a program next summer and we should have an offering in the summer
catalog to encourage even broader participation.
- Sustainability of project (is there a high likelihood that
students in the department will be interested in studying the proposed subject
area at the prospective partner university and vice versa)?
With five students in 1999 and eight students and two
faculty in 2000, I believe this program is established in its own right.
Originally this was a music and dance program but this summer demonstrated that
the workshops appeal to students from all academic majors.
- How will this exchange program (or expansion) increase
participation by students in international activities, or enhance international
learning environments for students?
Africa is a mystery to most people. It is something
viewed on television and in National Geographic magazines. Every student or faculty member that travels
to Ghana becomes an ambassodor for a part of the world that is distant and
unknown for most people. The sharing of experiences by the students and faculty
stirs the interest of thier fellow students and faculty to say "I could do
that." There are students who are already eagerly asking when they can
make deposits for the trip next summer. The interest is fantastic and I feel we
must move quickly if this program is to be affiliated with San Diego State in a
recognized course schedule.
- What students will benefit?
This summer's program demonstrated that all students from
various academic majors received an enriching experience that will be with them
for the rest of their lives. The proof is that several of the students from the
first trip returned for the second. One of the students will attend either the
University of Ghana or the University of Cape Coast in the Spring semester
whether we have an established program or not. Any of these students would be
happy to give thier own accounts to your office directly.
- What will be their activities (e.g. course work, international
internships, field research, etc.)?
Lectures, fieldtrips, field research, participatory,
observant.
- What will be your role in
promoting and supporting these activities?
I am prepared to
continue my roll as program director.
V. Additional Information
Friday, July 20th
We arrived at Kotoka International Airport at
9:30am, checked into rooms at the Holiday
Hotel in Accra, Ghana. We rested and prepared for a welcoming meeting
and informational discussion at the National Theatre
of Ghana with Dr. Amoaku and Ms. Amarteifio. This was followed by dinner and a
welcoming music and dance
performance by the Dance Factory.
Saturday,
July 21
Lecture by J. H. Nketia, Director ICAMD, University
of Ghana, Legon on the complementary duality in African culture: Lawyers as
chiefs, new and old medicines, traditional oral and new writing practices. Dr. Nketia also expressed musical
phrasing concepts that follow the rhythm and tonal variations of text. This was
followed by a workshop (flute, xylophone, drum) with musicians (Hewale Sounds) from the University of
Ghana, Legon.
Sunday,
July 22
Workshop with musicians from University of Ghana (Hewale Sounds) in the morning. We then
departed for Ho, Volta Region in the southeastern part of Ghana. We checked in
to the E. P. C. Social Center and participated in a traditional Borborbor dance party with the Dunenyo
Borborbor group that evening.
Monday,
July 23
Morning drumming and dance classes in Adowa and Kpanlogo with artists from the National Theatre of Ghana. We would spend the next week learning a
traditional Ashanti funeral dance, Adowa,
and a war dance from the Northern Region of Ghana called Takai. After lunch we had
lessons in Fume Fume with Master
drummer Nii Afotey. The evening was spent on xylophone parts for Bawaa with Boateng.
Tuesday,
July 24
Morning drumming and dance classes in Adowa and Takai. After lunch we met with the chiefs of the five districts of
the Ho traditional area. We were officially welcomed to the area with a
libation and traditional welcoming gifts of bead bracelets. At 5pm a lecture was given on traditional dance
forms by the dance director at the National Theatre, Nii Yartey. This lecture explained the Adowa hand
movements and gestures and provided historical background on dances in general.
The evening was filled by a Fume Fume drum
lesson with Nii Afotey and private flute and xylophone lessons.
Wednesday,
July 25
Morning drumming and dance classes in Adowa and Takai. In the afternoon there were drum classes in Fume Fume accompaniment parts while Nii
Afortey soloed. From 4 to 6 we had atenteben flute lessons with Boateng.
Thusday,
July 26
Morning drumming and dance classes in Adowa and Takai. The afternoon was Market day in Ho for shopping. The
students bought cloth to be made into clothes by local tailors and
seamstresses. The evening classes were Adowa
and Takai group rehearsals.
Friday,
July 27
Morning drumming and dance classes in Adowa and Takai. The afternoon was free with an optional trip to greet Togbe
Kwaku Foli IX in the Akrofu
traditional area. Some students visited local tailors for traditional cloths
and dance costumes.
Saturday,
July 28
Departure for Cape Coast. Check in at the Fair Hill
residence. Afternoon at the Panafest Durbur and the procession of traditional
chiefs. Evening at Panafest for shopping and contemporary African music at
Panafest venues.
Sunday,
July 29
Asafo Dance and Drumming class
with the Agoro Project. The Agoro Project is designed to board and train
foreign students in Traditional Asafo dance and Fantsi customs. There were
eight students in residence at the time of our visit from Italy, Germany and
the United States. Traditionally, Asafo
was a war dance of the local Fantsi people. In modern times the Asafo clubs
support various community projects and aid in case of emergencies. In the afternoon we were given a tour of the
Cape Coast Castle and museum. Excellent lecture and exhibits on history and the
slave trade. The evening was traditional music and shopping at Panafest.
Monday,
July 30
Asafo dance and drumming classes. Depart for Ho.
Tuesday,
July 31
Depart for Aneho, Republic of Togo. Welcoming
performance by a traditional womens vocal group. This was followed by a
participatory performance in Adzogbo.
Adzogbo is a traditional dance of
kings and feudal chiefs in old Togo. Aneho has one of the longest traditions of
practicing the Adzogbo dance. The dance expresses traditional terms and
behaviors that are related to everyday life and social consciousness. Free
evening.
Wednesday,
August 1
Morning and afternoon dance and drum class in Adzogbo (Kododo, Calling of the Achung,
Atsia) In the evening we attended a traditional religious ceremony for the
elevation of a priestess in the village of Vogan.
Thursday,
August 2
Morning class in Adzogbo
drumming and dance. Post office and phone calls. We also traveled to Lome,
the capital city of Togo for a traditional wedding engagement party in the
evening.
Friday,
August 3
Morning class in Adzogbo
drumming and dance. We then traveled to the village of Vogan which has one
of the largest and most colorful market days in all of Togo. We followed this
with a trip to Togoville. It was from Togoville that voodoo practitioners were
taken as slaves to Haiti. We visited the museum to view exhibits of German
colonialism and the tomb of King Mlapa, who signed the treaty with the Germans
in 1884.
Saturday,
August 4
Adzogbo Dance and drumming classes. Free afternoon
Sunday,
August 5
Free morning. Group Adzogbo class.
Monday,
August 6
Demonstrative performance of the Adzogbo Dance by two different performing groups with the students
participating in drumming and dance. Depart Aneho, Togo and arrive in Ho,
Ghana.
Tuesday,
August 7
Pick up new clothes from the
seamstress and tailors. Depart for
Accra.
Purchase wood carvings and shop at University
of Ghana, Legon Bookstore.
Wednesday,
August 8
Visit the art center for shopping.
Packing.
Check in and find out the flight is cancelled. Students
move to the Global Summer Hotel, room and board courtesy of Ghana Air. Ghana Air paid the fee for the missed
connections and even paid for one students entire fair on Amtrack to return to
Elko, Nevada.
All information should be
sent to The Office of International Programs via e mail:
oip@mail.sdsu.edu