Programs by Destination

Ho, Ghana 
African Culture Through the Arts
June 12- July 5, 2012

Click here to read about President McDavis's first official visit to Ghana.

The School of Music, in conjunction with the College of Fine Arts and the Office of Education Abroad of Ohio University, are delighted to offer a 3-week intensive, academic experience in African cultures through the visual and performing arts. Participants in this unique program will be introduced to various topics in African Traditional and Popular Culture, Philosophy, and Visual and Performing Arts to enhance their understanding of indigenous and contemporary African artistic expressions.

Students will perform, analyze, construct, critique and demonstrate their acquired skills in various African artistic mediums such as music, dance, theater and visual arts through studio classes, and interaction with families, artists, chiefs, governmental art institutions and renowned professors all contribute to this extraordinary life-changing experience.

Field trips, Village Study Tours, Workshop with the award winning National Dance Company of Ghana and participation in local festivals in Volta, Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regions of Ghana provide another unique cultural immersion opportunity.

The program will use the Ghanaian on-site culture as context. Ho, the regional capital of the Volta Region of Ghana provides a unique venue since almost all the major ethnic groups are located in the region.  

Field experiences will include participation in festivals, visits to historic sites such as the slave castles, museums, and cultural and art centers. Practical training will involve learning from indigenous artists such as drummers, dancers, craftsmen, etc. Opportunities will be made available for students to spend some weekends with host families. There is no better way for our students to learn firsthand the African way of life than participating in and contributing to the daily activities of the African people.

Highlights

• Participation in Traditional Music and Dance Festivals
• Master Classes with the National Dance Company of Ghana
• Village Study Tours of the Central, Greater Accra and Volta Regions
• Visits to Kakum Rainforest, Universities of Ghana, Cape Coast, Winneba, Kente Village, and Ghana Broadcasting Corporations
• Practical lessons in Drumming, Dance & Singing
• Learn to make your own African Batik / Adinkra, etc
• Spend weekends with Host families
• Learn an African Language: Ewe
• Instrumental repair workshops, and many, many more!!!
• Click for a poster highlighting student experiences and the program

Topics   

General

• Teaching African Music and Dance through The Alcate Technique: An intercultural Pedagogy
• African Religion and the Arts
• Introduction to African Traditional and Contemporary Popular Culture
• The Historical, Social and Cultural Contexts of African Music, Dance, Theater and Visual Arts
• African Arts and Media: Radio, Films, Televisions, etc.
• Aesthetics and the Interrelationships of African Arts Forms 

Dance

• Traditional and Contemporary African Dance Forms
• Recontextualization of African Dance Forms: From the Village to the Stage  

Music

• Traditional and Contemporary African (Ghanaian) Music
• Symbolism in African Music 

Theater

• An Overview of Theater in Ghana
• Drama and Theater in Traditional Ceremonies

Visual Arts

• Visual Arts in Traditional African Societies
• African Theater for Community Development, etc.

Eligibility and Selection Process

• This program is open to all registered OU students. Students from the Regional Campuses, other US universities and professionals in the field are also welcome to apply. This is an international program for all interested in African Arts.
• Good academic standing (2.75 GPA min.) or director’s permission.
• Pass an interview with the Program Director.
• Students in music, dance, theater, visual arts and African Studies are highly encouraged to apply.
• Students who have a judicial record and will be on probation for a judicial offense at any point during the program may petition to study abroad. Click here to read the entire judicial policy.

Application Deadline

• Online Application
  
• Application Deadline
  

Living Arrangements
Room (double occupancy) and board (two meals a day) will be provided.

Courses and Credits
OU undergraduate students will register for 6 credits, OU graduate students for 9 credits. There is a non-credit option for non-OU participants; these participants will be expected to participate fully in all academic and extracurricular aspects of the program. For more details click on a subject below.

Courses include:

Art:         
ART 311 Drawing Media                
ART 547 Special Topics in Prints  

Dance:    
DANC 120D African Dance: Beginning
DANC 220D African Dance: Beginning Intermediate
DANC 320D African Dance: Intermediate
DANC 420D African Dance: Advanced
DANC 690 Independent Study 

Music:     
MUS 248A African Ensemble I             
MUS 248B African Ensemble II               
MUS 425 Music of Africa
MUS 426 African Music and Related Arts
MUS 498 Independent Study in Music                
MUS 525 Music of Africa
MUS 526 African Musice and Related Arts
MUS 548A African Ensemble I
MUS 548B African Ensemble II               
MUS 600 Independent Studies for Graduate Students 

Theater:  
THAR 473 Theatre Development: International Perspectives                
THAR 573 Theatre Development: International Perspectives

Costs

Student budget worksheet - Standard

Student budget worksheet - Non-credit option with airfare

For More Information contact:
Prof. Paschal Yao Younge Program Director
Glidden Hall, 471D
Tel: 740-593-1631
Email: youngep@ohio.edu

Keely Davin
Program Coordinator
Office of Education Abroad
WIEC 012
Tel: 740-593-1798