#dagbe

[ghanatravels]

Tuesday, 17 December

In the afternoon before our performance, I found a lizard in our room. He was so tiny. He was hiding behind the cabinet and I saw him climb the wall towards the window. I wasn't really sure what to do, but Jackson and Elekem came in with some sticks and started banging the walls to make it leave. I named him Walter. 

Evelyn decided she wanted to climb a coconut tree. 

[ghanatravels]

Tuesday, 17 December

Performance day at Dagbe. It was a big day for all of us! We got to perform our dance and drumming for some people in the village. It was mostly children who came but it was really fun. I manged to make it through the performance without screwing up too hugely. The drumming portion of the performance was really fun. Each instrument had a helper drummer, but I thought we did pretty well, especially for only having 3 drumming classes. We got to watch some of the staff members dance too which was really fun. There was also a puppeteer who did a few puppet dances. The brass band from the school played too. They were so incredibly loud. The bell and some of the other drums started playing with them, which I thought was a neat juxtaposition. 

[ghanatravels]

Friday 13 December This is the dance we learned. It's called Gahu. This is a shorter version than what is usually performed and shorter than ours. There's many more variations and they usually last longer.

[ghanatravels]

Friday December 13

First full day at Dagbe! Evelyn was playing with her friend Ablavi in the morning. Such a sweet, sassy little girl. Her mom was part of the kitchen staff.

I was mesmerized by the afternoon light streaming through my mosquito netting. It was quite peaceful at the village and really everywhere in Ghana. They are a very peaceful people. 

The beloved summer hut. We learned everything there. It was a meeting point, a learning center, a place to relax and to play. 

Some of the staff members are setting up for our drumming class. We learned all kinds of rhythms and instruments. My favorite was playing the sogo. It had the most changes throughout the piece and each rhythm was so unique. 

[ghanatravels]

Leaving in two days!

I can't believe the time has come! I'm so excited to travel to Africa. I'm not sure how often I will be able to post photos, but I plan to make "retroactive" posts once I arrive back in the states. 

Itinerary:

Dec. 9: arrive in Accra, the capital city

Dec. 10: private performance and workshop with the world renowned Ghana Dance Ensemble

Dec. 11: tour of the drum workshop of David Amoo, master drum maker and artistic director of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble

Dec. 12-17: Dagbe Cultural Institute & Arts Centre  -students live and study at the Dagbe Cultural Institute & Arts Centre, receiving hands-on group instruction from local artists in traditional drumming, dancing and singing, with a secondary focus on basket weaving, batik printmaking and kente cloth weaving

Dec. 18: travel from Kopeyia, where Dagbe is located, to Central Region

Dec. 19: visit historic Cape Coast Castle, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its prominent role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade

Dec. 20: Kakum National Park Rainforest Reserve & Return to Accra

Dec. 21: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial