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OUR ARTS: Our Wealth and Health
No full textThe Arts can be active instrument for meaningfully progressive
development in Ghana. It can also be used as ‘litmus test’ in national
economic development to expedite the developmental success
stories of Ghana. Can Ghana rethink the place of her art in national
development to save her from her titanic economic affliction? The
paper attempts to discuss the massive artistic orientation for Ghana
in using her arts to accumulate wealth and promote health to her
people, and justify how this could be done, supporting this argument
with empirical and circumstantial evidences. Based on the findings of
this study, further suggestion are given through which wealth creation
and health promotion could be maximized so that the arts and craft
industry could become the lynchpin of the country’s economy
PRODUCTION OF LOCAL GLAZES–KEY TO DEVELOPING THE CERAMIC INDUSTRY IN GHANA
Get PDFA glaze as defined by Rhodes (1977) is a glassy coating melted in
place on a ceramic body which may render the body smooth, non
porous and of a desired colour or texture. A glaze therefore is a glass
like substance coated on a ceramic body to become durable and
attractive. Glazes are essentially made from common rocks, earthy minerals and
substances, such as clay, feldspar, limestone and dolomite. Some
glazes can also be made from common salt, wood ash and shells.
Most of these natural glaze materials can be found in several locations
in Ghana. The results of earlier studies conducted by me indicate that very useful
local glaze materials such as Feldspar, Green rocks, Nepheline syenite,
Dolomite and several other fusible clays are available and abundant
in several parts of Ghana. I believe that it is possible to produce glazes
locally using the clues provided in this paper. The objective is to enhance the development of local glazes through
research for the ultimate development of the ceramic industry in Ghana
Design of Fashion Accessories Using Akwa-Ocha Motifs and Symbols
Get PDFAkwa-Ocha which connotes white cloth is basically an indigenous hand
woven cloth that is produced by the Aniocha people of Delta state. The cloth
which contains surface decorative motifs and symbols is used for various
festive occasions among the people. Akwa-Ocha motifs and symbols and
their functions reveal the people’s history or past events, religion and social
behaviours. Nigerian traditional elements such as the Akwa-Ocha motifs and
symbols feature in the changing landscape in the design of fashion accessories
in Nigeria. Thus, contemporary trend in global fashion conciseness has
influenced Akwa-Ocha in its application of fashion accessories. Akwa-Ocha
motifs and symbols function as carriers of cultural heritage and identity of
the Aniocha people. This paper therefore focuses on the use of Akwa-Ocha
motifs and symbols for the design of fashion accessories using available local materials. The exploration of Akwa-Ocha motifs and symbols for the design of fashion accessories for obvious reasons include creating an identity, checking
the emphasis already placed on foreign fashion accessories, creating
awareness and projecting one of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritages
Imaging: The ‘Constructor’ of Modern, Post modern and Contemporary Life
Get PDFPhotography has become ubiquitous in contemporary experience, manifesting mostly onscreen. This paper explores the scopophilic trends of modern, post-modern and contemporary living as anticipated in the work of Freud and affirmed by Lacan in the coinage scopic regime. It explores how pervasive imaging has become today and exposes how layered the visual can be in contemporary society. Locating photography’s place in contemporary experience brings into focus decades of thought on semiotic discussions. These discussions introduce the political, social and cultural aspects of photographic experience from the 18th century till date. Enwezor’s reflections on the ubiquity, form and power that the image wields especially on contemporary society, condense these contextual implications the image conjures. Our conclusion is that, despite the unease about the impact of the image on society, it seems to have come to stay as a constructor of contemporary life. This paper therefore introduces the photographic image and highlights some of the concerns that surfaced with its introduction. Important theories and trends are discussed with respect to the proliferation of the image today. The imaging technologies and culture of modern men are explored while the coded messages that images transmit are exposed. Views and projections of critical thinkers from different generations and locations are helpful in analyzing the culture of viewing that has pervaded the living conditions of the 21st century citizen. The conclusion is clearly a matter of interpretation since the discovery of the truth in an image is subjective
Trend of ‘Avih?wo’ Performance among Women Dirge Singers in Tafi Traditional Area, Ghana
Get PDFAvih?wo (dirges) play pivotal roles in the performance of funerals among
the people of Tafi traditional area in Ghana. However there has been grave
concern about the decline in the performance of avih?wo in recent times in
the Tafi Traditional area. This study explored the factors that brought about
decline in the performance of avih?wo in contemporary times in the area. An
ethnographic study was adopted in a purely qualitative paradigm. Forty (40)
women dirge singers were sampled through purposive sampling technique
for the study. Interview, focus group discussion and observation were used
to collect data for the study. Qualitative data gathered from the respondents
were analysed using thematic analysis and responses were categorized
into themes. The study revealed a decline in the live performance of dirges
in Tafi traditional area. Almost three decades ago, the live performance of
avih?wo was a prominent feature of all funeral celebrations in Tafi, however
the situation is changing. The dirge singers expressed their emotions, grief
and condolences through their songs for the deceased person and the
bereaved family. This phenomenon has been linked to the ban on wakes
by some religious leaders in the area due to Christian beliefs, transformation
in burial and funeral rites due to acculturation, modernity and technological advancement, and youth disinterest in dirge singing. Historically, dirges
are exclusively performed to epitomize pain due to death, but a myriad of
factors threaten its live performance in recent times in Tafi traditional area.
There is the need for traditional authorities to encourage live performance
of dirges during funerals and also sensitize the people to remove biases and
misconceptions against dirges in the area. Finally, lead singers and cantors in
the Tafi traditional area to gesture, choreograph and interpret dirges to the
audience during funerals in order to rejuvenate its live performance
An Analytical Discourse in the Construction of Text in the Choral Works of Sam Asare-Bediako
Get PDFThis paper presents an analytical work that gives a panoramic view of textual analysis in the choral writings of Sam Kwaku Asare-Bediako; His journey as a free-lance composer enables him to construct text in various traditions and beliefs. In addition to the description given to some of his works as loquacious in this paper, the study provides an insight into the thought processes of the composer, such as the adoption of colloquialism in his music, his controversial system in both spelling and construction of text in the Asante Twi language spoken by the people of Ashanti region of Ghana and lastly, his system of classification in text. The compositions are sampled randomly. The examination of the works involved in this paper was done by observing the scores, listening to both audio and videos online, as well as live performances, and few interviews regarding response to his music by song teachers, performers (choristers) and listeners. Lastly, the perspectives highlight all the social, moral, and educational relevance of the work
An Exploratory Study on Support Systems Available in Ghana for Fashion Skill Acquisition by the Visually Impaired
Get PDFThis study explored the views of respondents on systems available in Ghanaian institutions that support the acquisition of fashion skills by the visually impaired. The study was premised on the fact that the availability of these systems are not known to redirect and facilitate the skill development of the visually impaired in fashion. Specifically, the study assessed the experiences of visually impaired individuals concerning systems available to enable them to enroll and acquire fashion-related skills. The case study research design was adopted to select and report data qualitatively. Interview and Focus Group Discussion were used to collect data from twenty-seven visually impaired students and six Fashion and Special Education experts. The respondents were reached through the adoption of purposive, convenience and snowball sampling techniques. With the aid of Nvivo software version 14, thematic analysis was carried out and presented as findings in this study. The study revealed that the Ghanaian educational system struggles to provide systems supportive for training the visually impaired with fashion skills. It was recommended that the government and institutions that provide
aids for visually impaired education, implement the necessary support systems to train the visually impaired with fashion skills in order to develop and empower their creative abilities in fashion
African Vocal Art Music and a Proposed Guideline for Singing: Ghanaian Context
Get PDFThe article is a position paper that discusses the craft of compositions in African Art music in Ghana and highlighting a propositioned guideline in the performance of such created art musical pieces. Given the foundational inspiration from Euba’s notion of Interculturalism in music, there’s a noticeable lack of comprehensive documentation regarding vocal techniques aimed at advancing and instructing performers in the rendition of African Art musical performance. Regarding the selection of the compositions involved in this paper, transcription and analysis of the works were purposively selected, to consider how and why the techniques of various classifications were established in the compositions. It is envisaged that the study will serve as a work of posterity and an introduction to vocal techniques in the singing of African Art music
Understanding experiences of child labour: A grounded theory perspective
No full textChild labour is a global canker that plagues developing countries more with one in four children involved. Using the grounded theory design, we explore the experiences and consequences relating to educational and career aspirations of 10 purposively selected basic school students engaged in child labour activities from two Junior High Schools in fishing communities in the Cape Coast Municipality. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data. Data were then coded, analysed and a theoretical model developed describing the six components of Strauss and Corbin’s (1990) paradigm model designed for grounded theory research. We found that though fishing and its related activities abound in the fishing villages, participants also engaged in farming activities such as cutting and selling thatch, and weaving and selling kloba.1 Despite it being very dangerous, the kloba work was more lucrative
sometimes than fishing activities. It also emerged that participants have little or no knowledge of the link between academic programs and their related jobs. We conclude that participants have limited exposure on various career information and choices available to them. We recommend that school counsellors and other social workers educate parents, children and significant others on the hazardous nature of child labour on pupils’ education, and optimum development; and to provide career information and opportunities to these children
In their Own Voices: Ghanaian Male Kindergarten Teachers’ Experiences and their Professional Identity Construction
Get PDFThe study explored the experiences and professional identity construction of male kindergarten teachers in Ghana, a highly underrepresented group in the early childhood education space. Using the phenomenological design, in-depth interviews were conducted with five male kindergarten teachers from two districts in Ghana. The narratives were analysed through thematic analysis using the MAXQDA 2020 software to deduce common themes related to motivation, societal perceptions, identity negotiation strategies, and challenges. Findings revealed intrinsic motivations like passion for child development and extrinsic factors like parental recognition drove these men into kindergarten teaching. However, they encountered gender stereotypes questioning their intentions and capacity. Despite challenges, male teachers actively constructed empowering professional identities by embracing caring approaches, highlighting unique contributions, negotiating masculinity, developing expertise, and fostering supportive relationships. Continuous learning, peer support, self-motivation, and adaptability to changing landscapes emerged as key influencers. Notable challenges included lack of teaching resources, inadequate professional development, low prioritization of early childhood education, and negative societal attitudes towards male kindergarten teachers. The study recommends targeted mentorship, advocacy campaigns, curriculum reviews, resource allocation, policy incentives, among others to support and promote males in the early childhood education space