The first African Director of the Institute of African Studies (IAS), Emeritus Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia has received the Special Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah African Genius Award in recognition of his timeless contribution to culture.
The special ceremony, which took place at the National Theatre, was witnessed by His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama.
Emeritus Professor Nketia, also described as the ‘Grandfather of African Music’ was given a citation which said in part, “His concept and interpretation of time and rhythmic patterns in Ghanaian and other African folk music were revolutionary, and became standard for researchers and scholars around the world. Today, many scholars around the world have found Nketia’s theory very useful in transcribing African music. Prof. Nketia’s work to reconcile the melodic and rhythmic elements of folk music with contemporary music spurred a new kind of compositional technique for African musicians and academics, worldwide.”
In all, there were 16 awards in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Medicine, Film, Writing, Information Communication Technology, Drama, Music, Diasporan Impact, Design, Language and Science & Technology.
Emerita Professor Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu, a retired Professor of the Institute; Professor Kofi Agyekum, Ag. Director of School of Performing Arts (SPA); and Professor Gilbert Ansre, who was appointed to the IAS as the first African Linguist, also received awards in the area of Language.
Posthumous award winners included Professor Mawere Opoku, former Artistic Director, Ghana Dance Ensemble, (also described as ‘Father of Dance’); Kofi Ansah, who is synonymous with exquisite, sophisticated and feminine timeless fashion, and Esther Ocloo, who is described as the ‘Mother of Industry.’
The shortlist for the awards ceremony was undertaken by a wide range of the Board of Governors, including Professor Kofi Asare Opoku, Former Acting Director, IAS and Professor Francis Nii-Yartey, Head of Dance Department, SPA.
