Emeritus Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia Receives Special Award

 

    Emeritus Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia

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 the Chief of Staff, Mr. Prosper Bani, on behalf of 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.”