Mr. Klufio collecting his Rising Star award at Coker University
Adjetey Klufio, a multi-award-winning professor and co-founder of the pan-Africanist traditional dance group "Osagyefo Dance Company," had an inspiring interaction with Judge Michelle Childs, a United States (US) adjudicator, as they talked about dance and Africa’s judicial systems, with particular focus on Ghana’s legal system.
Judge Childs was previously a US district judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina from 2010 to 2022 and a judge of the South Carolina Circuit Court from 2006 to 2010.
The two’s encounter happened at Coker University as it launched its Distinguished Lecture Series for the 2024 Spring Semester, which featured lecturers including Juan Enríquez as part of the Lois Walters Coker Series and Judge Childs, who was on the April 25, 2024 line-up.
She was also the President’s Distinguished Speaker. The All Distinguished Lecture series events were held in the Watson Theater and were open to the public.
Mexican-American academic Juan Enríquez, who is a businessman and author, was also in the Lois Walters Coker series that began at 7 o’clock that night. Judge Childs, who is now a lawyer and jurist serving as a US Circuit Judge of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, opened the floor for questions at the end of her lecture.
“What is your view on the judiciary system in Africa, especially Ghana and Nigeria, since you mentioned Nigeria in your speech?” Mr. Adjetey Klufio asked.
Her answer was straightforward. “It’s hard to talk about other places not under your jurisdiction.”
After the lecture, Professor Klufio had a short conversation with her about the importance of justice in a country. She said to him, “I know a lot about Ghana because my niece is dating a Ghanaian.”
In a post-event interview with TheAfricanDream.co, Adjetey Klufio praised Judge Childs for her insights into the US judicial system based on her “excellent” delivery during the lectures.
The Ghanaian professor and dance advocate said he has been further inspired by the night’s event to continue discovering ways to use authentic Ghanaian and other dance forms to positively tell and influence political and societal issues.
“Some people might not be aware that dance is also a powerful political and judicial tool for Africans, and in the case of Ghana particularly, groups like 'Kolomashi', a movement that emerged in the 1950s in protest against colonialism during Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s fight for the political liberation of Ghana, used music and dance as a peaceful and non-violent tool to rally the masses’ awareness of British oppression,” Professor Klufio revealed.
Mr. Klufio recently won the inaugural ‘Dean’s Early Career Award’ in April 2024 at Coker University McCall School of Visual and Performing Arts and the ‘Rising Star’ awards in May 2024 for his enormous contribution to Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina.
He thanked the school for recognizing his work in his interview with TheAfricanDream.co.
The award is for my family—Dr. Elikem Nyamuame, Vincent Thomas, Lynda Fitzgerald, Linda Dennis Fisher-Harrel, and my children—and indeed also for the entire Osagyefo Dance Company crew for all the motivation and hard work put into getting me here. We all did it together,” he said.
Inspired by the words of Judge Childs, the co-founder of Osagyefo Dance Company asked that people watch out for their upcoming performances for the 2024–2025 season.
Mr. Klufio, along with two other co-founders and executive directors, Isaac Nii Adjei Adjetey and Mustapha Braimah, established Osagyefo Dance Company in the fall of 2018, all from Ghana, West Africa.
The talented individual artists merged and formed the company for their love and connection to Africa.
The company has distinguished itself in the world of drumming, dancing, and performance. It is known for its dynamic and high-energy performances and commitment to excellence, discipline, and authenticity.
Some stages and venues they’ve been hosted at include the Embassy of Ghana, Dance Africa DC, and collaborations with Soul in Motion Players and Coyaba Dance Theater, among others.
