Drumming and Dancing in Ghana

CATO's Dancing and Drumming studies in Ghana focuses on African music-making and its relationship with everyday life. This programme is designed to cultural immersed students in a traditional village life. This programme takes place in the Dagbe Cultural Institute and Arts Centre.

The programme includes the study of music and dance. During the programme duration, students will learn to perform one or two of the major music and dance genres. Participants will also have the opportunity to study traditional crafts such as the weaving of Kente, woodcarving and drum making. A seminar about the "Music and Art of Ghana" is also conducted in English.

This programme is open to all majors, undergraduates, graduate students and doctorate students.

The Dagbe Cultural institute is located in the picturesque village of Kopeyia in the Ewe -Speaking region of West Africa. The Dagbe institute is a facility for the study of West Africa's vibrant art forms and culture in a typical village with a natural setting. The Institute was founded by recently deceased Godwin Agbeli, an Ewe master musician and widely recognised expert on the traditional music styles of West Africa.The institute offers instruction in traditional drumming , dancing , singing, weaving of Kente cloth, tye and dye, wood carving and drum making.

Kopeyia, is a traditional Ewe village approximately three hours Northeast of the capital, Accra.

Since the inception of the institute in 1982, professors, teachers, musicians and students from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand had participated in teaching and learning programmes. Other students and their professors from the University of North Texas, Bowling Green State University, Berkeley College of Music had all participated in this programmes.