The maiden edition of “Labone Dialogues”, a lecture series that seeks to facilitate intellectual discourse on pertinent issues and celebrate the life and works of renowned personalities, kicks off in Accra, today.
Instituted by the Labone-based academic centre of the New York University (NYU-Accra), it would be on the topic “Archives and Local Production of Knowledge: The Kofi Ghanaba Archives.”
Professor Awam Amkpa of NYU Global would speak on the creation of archives for personalities like the late Ghanaba (Guy Warren of Ghana) who was a world-famous drummer and Afro-Jazz influencer.
At the event, a copy of the Kofi Ghanaba Archives, a collection of the musical legend’s records and other literary materials, would be presented to the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana, to be studied.
Prof. Frankie Edozien, Director of NYU-Accra told Ghanaian Times in an interview yesterday that the lecture series formed part of the university’s community service engagement
“It is a way of engaging issues and people in Ghana, about Ghana and the West African region”, he said.
According to the renowned journalist, after 10 years of the death of the maestro, it was important that current generation, who did not get the opportunity to experience him, were introduced to his intellectual work.
Prof. Edozien said the NYU compiled the archives as part of a mission to make Ghanaba’s works available to as many as would want to study him adding that “we want to bridge the gap between those who enjoyed his works and those who have come after his death.”
Therefore, he said, aside the University of Ghana, where a copy would be kept, the public could have access to them at NYU-Accra, saying “we do not want the archive to be limited to NYU.”
Touching on the lecture topic, he said local production of knowledge and archiving of the life and works of prominent personalities especially in the literary space should be taken seriously.
“…so we don’t struggle when we want to study them after their death. Knowledge is not something to be kept from people because they do not have access,” he said.
In continuation of the agenda to preserve the legacy of legends, Prof. Edozien said the next lecture would focus on the life and works of Ghanaian author, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, over the last eight decades.
Ghanaba, born on May 4, 1923 was a Ghanaian musician, best known as the inventor of Afro-jazz. His dexterity on the African drums earned him the appellation “The Divine Drummer”.
He also worked as a journalist, DJ and broadcaster. He died on December 22, 2008.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
