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The Creative Potential of African Art Music in Ghana: A Personal Testimony (Companion Booklet to ICAMD CD Recordings)
This booklet on the Creative Potential of African Music in Ghana: A Personal Testimony is dedicated to the memory of Professor Albert Mawere Opoku for his unique contribution to Dance Theatre in Ghana, his close collaboration with colleagues in artistic research projects, and his enthusiastic and encouraging interest in the creative work of artists in cognate fields. Nothing would have pleased him more than to be part of the launch of the four volumes of CD recordings of a selection of my musical works, for he was always making cassette dubbings of my music for his friends. I believe that this Companion Booklet will be of interest not only to his circle of friends but also to other music lovers, students and the general public.
With this readership in mind, the scope of the booklet has been limited to a few personal observations. It does not tell the complete story of African Art Music in Ghana or Africa in general, something I hope our younger scholars will work on as scores and other sources of data become available. It is simply the story of an individual composer and his works, his reflections and comments on his experience as an African composer, which he presents in conjunction with the CD recordings of his works as testimonies of the creative potential of African art music. For a fuller and more objective account of my life and work, I would like to refer readers to Eric Akrofi: Sharing Knowledge and Experience: A Profile of J. H. Kwabena Nketia (Afram Publications 2003) and Akin Euba: Creative Musicology: A Study of J. H. Kwabena Nketia, Centre for Intercultural Studies, Berkeley.
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Peter Dagadu: Man of God
Usually we know those men who have influenced church and nation only by reputation, as it were from the outside. In this book we have the rare privilege of seeing such a man at close quarters his childhood and schooling, how he came to Christ, the struggles and problems he went through in short, what made him the man of God he was.
Though Peter Dagadu died so many years ago, there are thousands who knew him and who will find in this account the secret of a man they admired but did not always understand: To many others, both lay and ordained, the story of Peter Dagadu will prove a challenge to climb the upward path following in his footsteps.
Peter Barker came to Ghana in 1956, after studying history and theology at Oxford, to work on the magazine New Nation, of which Peter Dagadu was a member of the advisory board. He later taught French and history at Okuapemman and La Bone secondary schools, and in 1961 began a two-year course of study for the London BD at Trinity College (then in Kumasi). After three years as pastor of Kaneshie Presbyterian Church and editor of Christian Messenger, he was seconded to the Christian Council as secretary of the Literature Committee and later manager of Asempa Publishers.
₵25.00Peter Dagadu: Man of God
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How Big is the Sun
Age range: 6-10 years
Little Kukua’s curiosity takes her on an adventure into space, where she lands on the moon and learns about the various elements in the sky.
₵25.00How Big is the Sun
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Asɛnta, Oba! Vol 3 (Folktales in Cartoons, Ga)
“Asenta, Oba!” mli adesai lɛ jeee nɔ hee ha mɛi fɛɛ ni fɔ adafitswaawolo ni ji “Maŋsaralɔ” lɛ kanemɔ lɛ.
Adesai lɛ ateŋ eko fɛɛ eko eje kpo be ko pɛŋ, aloo nyɛsɛɛ ko, yɛ Maŋsaralɔ mli, ni kanelɔi enya amɛhe jogbaŋŋ.
Nikanelɔi abimɔnaa lɛ abua adesai nɛɛ sɔŋŋ anaa akɛfee woji muji, koni nikanelɔi krokomɛi hu ana amɛhe sɛɛ.
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Asɛnta, Oba! Vol 2 (Folktales in Cartoons, Ga)
“Asenta, Oba!” mli adesai lɛ jeee nɔ hee ha mɛi fɛɛ ni fɔ adafitswaawolo ni ji “Maŋsaralɔ” lɛ kanemɔ lɛ.
Adesai lɛ ateŋ eko fɛɛ eko eje kpo be ko pɛŋ, aloo nyɛsɛɛ ko, yɛ Maŋsaralɔ mli, ni kanelɔi enya amɛhe jogbaŋŋ.
Nikanelɔi abimɔnaa lɛ abua adesai nɛɛ sɔŋŋ anaa akɛfee woji muji, koni nikanelɔi krokomɛi hu ana amɛhe sɛɛ.
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Naa Luro Mini O Bihi (Dagbani)
This book tells about the life history of Naa Luro, a renowned Chief of Dagbong and his four sons who also became chiefs in succession after his death.
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Kagbeniwushi Be Laŋto 3 (Gonja)
The Gonja language which is spoken by the Gonjas is quite distinct from all the languages in the Northern and Upper Regions. It is rather akin to some languages in the South, particularly, the Guang languages.
Gonja-speaking area covers more than one third of the Northern Region. It shares boundaries with the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Region in the South, and the Dagombas, the Mamprussis and the Walas in the North.
Gonja is a tonal language and changes in meaning are brought about by tonal differences. It is to be noted that most questions end on a falling tone.
All persons learning Gonja will find that the Gonjas have the tendency to elide vowels and slur consonants. Final vowels are always elided before other vowels, and often before words beginning with consonants.
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Kagbeniwushi Be Laŋto 2 (Gonja)
The Gonja language which is spoken by the Gonjas is quite distinct from all the languages in the Northern and Upper Regions. It is rather akin to some languages in the South, particularly, the Guang languages.
Gonja-speaking area covers more than one third of the Northern Region. It shares boundaries with the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Region in the South, and the Dagombas, the Mamprussis and the Walas in the North.
Gonja is a tonal language and changes in meaning are brought about by tonal differences. It is to be noted that most questions end on a falling tone.
All persons learning Gonja will find that the Gonjas have the tendency to elide vowels and slur consonants. Final vowels are always elided before other vowels, and often before words beginning with consonants.
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Kagbeniwushi Be Laŋto 1 (Gonja)
The Gonja language which is spoken by the Gonjas is quite distinct from all the languages in the Northern and Upper Regions. It is rather akin to some languages in the South, particularly, the Guang languages.
Gonja-speaking area covers more than one third of the Northern Region. It shares boundaries with the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Region in the South, and the Dagombas, the Mamprussis and the Walas in the North.
Gonja is a tonal language and changes in meaning are brought about by tonal differences. It is to be noted that most questions end on a falling tone.
All persons learning Gonja will find that the Gonjas have the tendency to elide vowels and slur consonants. Final vowels are always elided before other vowels, and often before words beginning with consonants.
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Language Guide (Gonja Version)
The Gonja language which is spoken by the Gonjas is quite distinct from all the languages in the Northern and Upper Regions. It is rather akin to some languages in the South, particularly, the Guang languages.
Gonja-speaking area covers more than one third of the Northern Region. It shares boundaries with the Brong-Ahafo and Volta Region in the South, and the Dagombas, the Mamprussis and the Walas in the North.
Gonja is a tonal language and changes in meaning are brought about by tonal differences. It is to be noted that most questions end on a falling tone.
This booklet is intended to guide people who are not yet proficient in Gonja.
All persons learning Gonja will find that the Gonjas have the tendency to elide vowels and slur consonants. Final vowels are always elided before other vowels, and often before words beginning with consonants.
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Yaa Mansa: Victim of Beauty (Great Minds Series)
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Beauty, they say, lies in the eyes of the beholder, but Yaa Mansa’s beauty was so glaring that even the meanest person could not help but steal a second glance at her.
The most captivating of it all was her mesmerizing smile that stupefied men.
Due to the unceasing ogling from lustful men here and there, Yaa Mansa realized that she was really sought for by men and that some men were even prepared to kill in order to have her. She, as a result, thought she could use her beauty to exploit them to get all that she wanted. At what cost does Yaa Mansa achieve her aim?
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Shattered Dreams
Age Range: 6 – 12 years
Rose and Susan were very close friends. They attended the same school, were in the same class and did everything in common. One thing kept close. Both of them took great delight in following rich old men and slept with them expressly for money.
While Susan’s parents were against their habit of going after old men who could be their fathers, Rose’s mother encouraged her daughter in the act.
“Use what you have to get what you want,” Rose’s mother used to tell her.
The two girls continued with their wayward life until the inevitable happened.
₵25.00Shattered Dreams
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The Agony of a Jealous Wife
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Kwesi Atta is the richest man in the town of Abease and is married to Mensima, the daughter of the Krontihene of Abease. Their marriage has been blessed with four healthy and beautiful children – three girls and a boy. To outsiders, Atta’s family is an example of a happy family. Only those who are close to the couple know that behind the facade of a peaceful and happy existence is a potential active volcano…₵25.00The Agony of a Jealous Wife
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Abrefi’s Red Letter Day: A True Story Based on Adolescent Reproductive Health
Age Range: 9 – 17 years
Sex education, particularly, guidance in a girl’s first menstrual experience, has been presented in an interesting, friendly and easy to understand manner. It is good for girls, parents, counsellors and educationists all over the world.
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You Are Dearly Loved
When mama loses her only child to suicide, she is overcome with grief and depression. Knowing she needs all the help she can get, Maame is introduced to a support group where she meets parents who share the same fate as her. They share their stories as they embark on a path of healing from their losses.
What could have made these young ones take their lives? Is suicide really the easy way out of hardships life throws at us?
Follow the story of Maame who battles the prejudice of a Ghanaian society who blame parents for the suicide of their children and the grief that makes her suicidal.
This book is for those who battle the abyss of depression and need a way out. It is for those who forget that suicide destroys not just the life taken but also the lives of the people left behind.
₵25.00You Are Dearly Loved
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