Participants attending a three day seminar at the University of Ghana, Legon, were last week treated to various aspects of Ghanaian artistic creations during a powerful concert at the National Theatre in Accra.
Held under the theme, “Canonical Works and Continuing Innovation in African Arts and Humanities”, the seminar attracted academics from diverse countries in Africa, Europe and the United States.
Indegenafrika, a youth group based at the National Theatre, thrilled participants with a combination of indeginous instruments like atenteben flutes, conch shells, xylophones and giant fontonfrom drums that nearly set the auditorium “ablaze”.
The National Dance Company of Ghana together with the Noyam African Dance Institute presented Solma, a piece co-choreographed by F. Nii Yartey and Jean Francois Duroure; and Musu, Saga of the Slaves, also co-choreographed by F. Nii Yartey and Monty Thompson.
An excerpt from “Song of the Pharaoh”, a spectacular new play written by Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah which explores the life and times of the heretic Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhnaton, was also staged by the National Drama Company in collaboration with the National Dance Company and Noyam African Dance Institute.
Topics discussed at the seminar included, “Diop, Egyptology and new directions for an African intellectual tradition”, “Senghor, Cesaire: Negritude beyond the arts ad humanities”, “Fanon, Padmore, Nkrumah and the Pan African revolutionary struggle” and “Foundation Works in African Philosophy and Religion”.
