I went on a trip to Africa to study Ghanaian drumming. On this trip I have endured a drastically different climate with torrential rain, blackouts, and water shortages, limited food choices, and a facility that was unforgiving. However, each day when Fifi wakes me up I feel like I have enough energy to get through the rigorous schedule of drumming, dancing, long conversations about schedules and each others interests. I am fortunate to be traveling with amazing people who seemed to give generously making up for what I was lacking. This type of group is hard to find. Imagine being 6,500 miles away from home in an exotic place, learning in a new style (no notes on a page), no expectations of a finish line (no exam), you become interested in and dependent on each other. The make-up of my community for this trip is the local staff at the Video City Hotel which consists of incredible people taking care of our needs day and night, 4 patient, skilled teachers and 11 students. Together we created a community interested in each others progress, welfare and friendship.
The people I am traveling with:
royal hartigan, a full professor of music at UMass, Dartmouth, and visiting faculty at University of the Philippines, in Quezon City, Manila. Writing books, cd’s and DVD’s about world music with a focus on African and African American tradition. Recorded 3 double CD’s on Innova records. He heads the African Music and Dance program at UMass Dartmouth previously at San Jose State University (CA), and the New School in New York City. Each year he brings students and community members to Ghana. He tap dances, plays piano, drumset and composes. He leads his own group “blood drum and spirit”.
Aziz Botchway – Master drummer and dancer born in Accra, Ghana, advanced studies in drumming at University of Ghana School of Performing Arts graduated 1977. For 7 years he was guest lecturer at University of Wesleyan, Middletown, Connecticut, USA. Recorded and performed with the band Talking Drums.
Kwabena Boateng, actor, dancer, musician, historian, teacher, born in Mampong, Asanti, Ghana. Graduate of Ghana, College of Performing Arts, Institute of African Studies, Accra, Ghana, graduate 1972. He is currently a guest lecturer of Ghanaian dance and music at University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth, Ma, USA. He has held this position for the past 10 years. He lives in Springfield, Ma. USA and summers in Mampong, Ghana.
Yaw Dan Okyere is our incredible drumming and dance teacher. He was born in Mampong, Asanti, Ghana. He is presently a lead drummer with the “Drummers of the King’s Palace.” He was trained in drumming and dancing while in elementary and middle school. He is now a teacher at the local elementary, middle and high schools in the Mampong region.
THE STUDENTS
Toni Bernardo is the leading percussionist and historian for samba music in the Philippines. She plays samba and jazz in a band that tours the Philippines and other countries. She is the founder and diretora da bateria of the Escola De Samba De Manila. Her main instruments are repique, surdo, agogo, caixa, timbao, tamborin, congas, timbales, drumset. She was born and resides in Manila. Toni told me, “I don’t learn through notes. Learning is by heart.” She practices music with her band in parks, she is an incredible samba dancer, and she is a vegetarian and studies Buddhist Meditation.
Tusa Montesis was born on August 20th, in 1980 in the year of the monkey. She is a percussionist with a bachelor of music degree in musicology from the University of the Philippines College of Music, 2003. She is finishing her masters with a thesis on comparative study of indigenous music of Ghana and the Kalinga music of the Philippines. She performs Latin and ethnic percussion with various ensembles. She teaches world music at UP college of music, and the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music.
Abbie Chambers Abbie Chambers was born on June 1, 1976, in South Porcupine, Ontario, Canada. She presently resides in Westport, Ma. She graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2002 with a BFA in Textiles. Abbie went to a Ghanaian music and dance concert in 2002 and has been dancing and drumming in the program at UMass ever since. This is her fifth trip to Ghana. She makes clothing and sells them through her business called “Moon Tide Dyers” located in New Bedford. All the clothes are original designs produced by hand in our studio in New Bedford. The studio is located in an old textile mill in New Bedford. The studio is a working factory not a store; however a few times a year they have a studio sale. She does Aerial Silks, a circus art in the Ropeworks in New Bedford.
Lauren Falabella received her BFA in sculpture from UMass Dartmouth, 2007. She resides in New Bedford, Ma and works for a local company called “Ahead Headgear.” They do embroidery and direct to garment printing on golf apparel, shirts and hats of all sorts. She started Ghanaian dancing in 2006. She studied ballet, modern, and jazz from kindergarten through high school, but has found the Ghanaian dancing to be the most expressive. She recently started a new class called Aerial Silks, a circus art in the Ropeworks in New Bedford. This is her third trip to Ghana.
Adam Willoughby received his BA in Music education and percussion performance in 2010. He has studied Ghanaian music with royal and Kwabena for 4 years. He participated in the Spartans drum and bugle corps for 2 years 2007 and 2008. Presently Adam is the director of percussion at Fitchburg high School. He lives in Fitchburg, MA.
Kevin Koteles was born in 1987. He received a bachelor of music UMass Dartmouth 2010. Percussionist whose main instrument is the drum set. He has been involved in Ghanaian music and studies for 5 years. This is his 4th trip to Ghana. Kevin teaches marching band and concert percussion for the All City Whalers School Band in New Bedford, MA. This is Kevin’s fourth trip to Ghana. He has taught drumming to children and adults with Down’s syndrome. Kevin was born and resides in Westwood, Ma.
Jennelle Marechand was born in 1987. She graduated, with a BFA, in painting from Massachusetts College of Art, 2009. She studied Ballet since she was three years old. She has been studying and performing Ghanaian dancing for one year and this is her first trip to Ghana. She has been teaching art privately. She resides in Westwood, MA.
Amelia Godzor was born in 1982 in Kopeyia Village, in the Volta Region which is located in the southeastern part of Ghana. She finished middle school and attended a hairdressing school for 2 years. She worked as a hairdresser for many years. Amelia got interested in traditional dance in middle school while studying in their cultural program and continued her studies in the local cultural center. She met Abbie Chambers while teaching traditional dance at Kopeyia’s Dagbe Cultural Centre. They have been friends ever since. She has a 5 year old boy named, Samson Agbeli. She would like to manage her own salon in Accra, and continue teaching and dancing. In her free time she enjoys singing and dancing in the Assemblies of God Church in Accra.
HOTEL STAFF
Joseph Gyimah is the General manager and owner of the Video City Hotel in Mampong, Asanti, Ghana. He was born in Accra schooled and at the Achimota Boarding School in Accra. It is a famous school considered the ‘Harvard’ boarding school of Ghana. The present and many past presidents of Ghana are alumni of that school. He moved to London to attend Middlesex University. He graduated college in 2002 with a bachelor in Business Management. He manages many properties throughout Ghana including farms, rental properties and hotels. Joe is married and has 4 children. His favorite activities include watching television but more importantly he loves to direct independent films. Twice a year Jo visits Virginia to see his family.
Afia Acheampomaa (achiumpuma) is the receptionist and all around ‘get it done person’ at the Video City Hotel since November 2009. Afia was born, June 29, 1989 and lived in Mampong until March 2009 when she moved to Accra. She is a graduate of the Amaniampong Sr. High School in 2008. She would like to go to teachers college and train to be a middle school math teacher. Her favorite thing to do is to sing in church. She also likes football (soccer).
Josephine Ackomah was born in 1976 in Takordi, Ghana. She graduated Nsein High and vocational training school Home Economics, she graduated in 1994. She worked as a cook for many lumber companies, B.R.M in Cape Coast, Samartex in Assarkragua area, Ghana Prime wood in Takordi, Ghana. She travelled to Lebanon for employment cooking for her boss for 2 months. There she learned about Middle Eastern cuisine. Then she cooked for the American company called Wyoming, a gold mining company in the Eastern Region. In July of 2010 Josephine started working at the Video City Hotel and lives in Mampong. Her favorite thing to do is read cookbooks, cook and eat. Some of the local recipes she made for us are , Foofoo, Redred, Kotomire (Swisschard with beans), nketsinkwan (ground nut soup), Banku (okra stew), circle bread with Zaatar, cowpea (bean balls), steamed Yam, fried Yam, Yam Shepard Pie, Plantain, Samosa, spring rolls, corn soup, cauliflower soup and great rice. And lots of delicious food from the kitchen staff was made with love.
Florence Adwoa Serwaa is the assistant chef at the Video City Hotel. She was born in the Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and Africa. She was an apprentice cook in Accra and makes batik material. She is a mom to her 15 year old daughter Akua. Her favorite thing to do is Sing.
Mercy Arthur is an assistant chef at the Video City Hotel in Mampong. She was born in 1981 and raised in Takoradi, Ghana. She graduated Jr. High School 1993 and then attended vocational school to study Home Economics and graduated in 1999. She presently lives in Mampong. She would like to travel to Germany. She loves watching action films and playing tennis.
Appiah Paul was born 1992 in Mampong, Asanti, Ghana. He graduated middle school in 2008. In February 2010 Appiah started working as an all around hotel staff at the Video City Hotel in Mampong. He works 7 days a week. He has no time to visit his family. Appiah is saving money for the fees for high school however he sends his family money every week. Appiah would like to study computer sciences when he continues his education. If he had the day off tomorrow he said, “I would see my mom and then go play drums”. He likes music. He likes working at the hotel.
Fifi
Bio forthcoming
Adjei James was born May 6th 1983 in the town of Mampong, Asanti, Ghana. Graduated Junior high (1999) and completed two years of senior high (2001, 18 years of age). He started working as a cobbler for one and a half years. At 19 1/2 he traveled to Accra to work at a filing station that did auto repairs. At 20 years old he returned to Mampong and started his job as bartender, chamber maid for the mornings, mow lawns and general maintenance. He has been here for 8 months. On his free time he plays football (soccer). He has a daughter in Mampong; unfortunately his relationship with the mom did not work out. But he spends time with her whenever he can. He would like to sell clothing and start a business in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana.
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