Professor Nketia's work will help build a new Ghanaian civilization – Akufo-Addo

General News of Saturday, May 4, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-05-04

President Nana Akufo-Addo said that the legacy of late Professor Emeritus Joseph Hansen Kwabena Nketia highlighted the importance of education.

Professor Nketia was an ethnomusicologist, composer, distinguished linguist, author and author whose work on African music and culture has become world-renowned.

At his funeral, the President paid tribute to Professor Nketia's work on Ghanaian arts and culture, which took place Saturday in front of the State House courthouse.

"For me, I am convinced that we are proud of Professor Nketia's work to help reclaim the past in order to nourish the present and seize the future. We will be further encouraged to build a democratic nation based on fairness, respect, self-esteem and inclusion. We will then build a new Ghanaian civilization and Ghana beyond aid, which will allow a new flowering of Ghanaian arts and culture. "

"His life experiences underscore the crucial importance of education. He advocated for this in Ghana, whose holistic culture and identity played a key role in managing the challenges posed by globalization. A life of admirable research earned him the highest distinction of a professor emeritus, "he added.

Death of J. H Nketia

Professor Nketiah, considered the first African musicologist, died at the age of 97 on March 13, 2019.

His funeral was characterized by rich Ghanaian cultural performances by the Winneba Youth Choir and the Immanuel Congregation Choir, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, by Madina New Road, his church.

Professor J. H. Nketiah was born on June 22, 1921 in Asante Mampong.

He had over 200 publications and 80 musical compositions to his credit.

He was the first African Director at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and has received several awards, including the Cowell Award of the African Music Society, his companion for the first time. 39; Order of the Ghana Star, the Great Medal of the Government of Ghana and the Africanist Award of the Association of African Studies of the United States of America for its dedication to long time to African studies.