About

Sylvanus Kwashie Kuwor was born into the Anlo-Ewe music and dance cultures in the Volta Region of Ghana. He began his cultural training at an early age and had his first stage award as a master drummer at the age of six. As a well organised music, dance and theatre practitioner/scholar he lectures at the Department of Dance Studies, School of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, Legon. He has had a decade of experience in Britain as a cultural educator where he used African drum music and dance in inclusion programmes aimed at integrating geographically displaced people including African refugees into mainstream society. 

He is a recipient of RUSH doctoral scholarship, two times recipient of Erasmus Choreomundus Visiting Scholar Grant (2015 and 2022) as well as Andrew Mellon Research Grant. He has also delivered African drumming workshops in over 300 schools and institutions in the UK, USA, Norway, Hungary, South Africa, Iceland and Canada. His work in a form of music and dance lectures, workshops and performances has so far reached prestigious institutions including, Binghamton University in New York, Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, University of Iceland in Reykjavik, University of  Szeged in Hungary, University of Roehampton in London, UK, Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Capilano University in Vancouver and University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. 

With financial support from US Embassy in Accra, Dr Kuwor has developed an online archive for teaching African music and dance. He has written several academic articles on African drumming and dance from Ghanaian perspective. He is also the editor-in- chief of the Journal of Performing Arts at the University of Ghana. He belongs to African Transdisciplinary Research Network and leads its segment on Science and Stories. He is also a key member of International Association of Blacks in Dance and represents the West African Region. He has also served as Guest Speaker and Artist for African Diasporan associations including Noviha UK, Togo Union in London, Council of Ewe Associations in North America (CEANA) and Ghana Union in Iceland. 

Dr Kuwor has been the Head of Department of Dance Studies at the University of Ghana for five years (2017-2022). He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses and also supervises graduate theses. He is the author of a book titled, ‘Agbadza dance of the Anlo-Ewe: Cultural knowledge transmission in Ghana and its representations in the Diaspora.’ His latest publication is a co-edited book titled, ‘The Role and Transmission of Performing Arts in Rural Ghana.’ Dr Kuwor is currently the Convenor of Graduate Dance Courses at the University of Ghana.

Education

He holds a

- Diploma in Dance Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. (2001).

-Master of Arts Degree in Creative and Professional Writing from Brunel University in London. (2008) 

-Postgraduate Diploma in Ethnochoreology from Nowegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway. (2011) 

-PhD in Dance Anthropology from the University of Roehampton in London, UK (2013)

Research Interest

His current research focuses on Anthropological investigation of Ghanaian and African dance forms as well as re-choreographing these dances to highlight their contemporary relevance. He investigates dance as a holistic art form with four quadrants namely, Movement, Music, Visual Forms and Multisensory Modalities.

Publications

1. Books 

Kuwor, S. K. (2023). Development of Dance in Post-colonial Ghana. (In press). 

Kuwor, S. K. (2021) Agbadza dance of the Anlo-Ewe: Cultural knowledge transmission in Ghana and its representation in the diaspora. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services 

2. Book Chapters  

Kuwor, S. K & Fiagbedzi, E. K. (2022). Bɔbɔɔbɔ Music, an Eʋe Cultural Phenomenon and its Diasporan Contributions. In Palacio et al edited Understanding America: the essential contribution of Afro-American music to the sociocultural meaning of the continent. 

Kuwor, S. K. (2015) Representation- My Africanist Perspective In Kwasi Ampene et al edited Discourses of African Musicology.  Michigan: University of Michigan 

3. Published Research Work in Refereed Journals 

Kuwor, S. K. & Anthonio, K. (2022) Indigenous knowledge embedded in Aŋlɔ-Eʋe music and dance traditions. Accepted by Legon Journal of Humanities. 

Kuwor, S. K. & Fiagbedzi, E K (2021). Drumming for socio-economic development: perspectives from Ghana and the African diaspora. Journal of Music and Dance, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 231-249 

Kuwor, S.K. (2018) Development of post-colonial Ghana: Indigenous knowledge and international law. Journal of Performing Arts, vol. 5, no. 3, pp.1-17. 

Kuwor, S.K. (2017) Dance and health in perspective. Journal of Performing Arts, vol. 5, no. 2, pp.1-12. 

Kuwor, S.K. (2017) Understanding African dance in context: Perspectives from Ghana. Africology: Journal of Pan African Studies, vol.10, no. 4, pp.47-64 

Kuwor, S. K. (2017) African dance as a tool for cultural re-union. Arlarinjo Journal of Theatre and Media Arts 

Kuwor, S.K. (2016) Dance as a vital part of Anlo traditional media. Journal of Performing Arts Vol. 5 (1) pp. 73-100 

Kuwor, S. K. (2014) Comodification of Dance and its Effects on African Dance Companies in the UK.  African Performance    Review. Vol 7(1) pp. 116-134      

Kuwor, S. K. (2013) ‘The Impact of Adzido on Black Dance and Cross-Cultural Education in British Schools’. Review of Human Factor Studies Vol. 19 (1) pp. 70-108 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) ‘Dance Aesthetics-The Case of Anlo-Ewes of Ghana’. Journal of Gleanings from Academic Outliers (JGAO). Vol. 1(1) pp. 211-23 

Paper Presentations at Major Conferences 

Kuwor, S.K (2023). Black dance in the African diaspora: Perspectives from Britain. PRAN conference at University of Alberta, Canada. 

Kuwor, S. K. (2022). Decolonising the academy in post-colonial countries. Choreomundus Alumni Conference. University of Clemond Ferrand, France. 

Kuwor, S. K. (2019) Emergence and re- emergence of Black dance in the African Diaspora. IABD conference at University of Dayton, Ohio, USA. 

Kuwor, S.K. (2017). Transdisciplinary Research in African Context: Perspectives from Ghana. TDR Conference at Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. 

Kuwor, S.K & Darko, D.J. (2016) Dance as a tool for cultural re-union in the church: Asare Newman technique. International Christian Dance Fellowship Conference on the theme, “Proclaiming the Goodness of God”, University of Ghana 

Kuwor, S. K. (2015) Dance Aesthetics: An African Perspective. Symposium of Dance Researchers and Choreomundus students on the theme, ‘Contemporary Approaches in Dance Anthropology, University of Szeged, Hungary. 

Kuwor, S.K. (2015) Dance as a tool for cultural re-union. International Research Conference on the theme ‘Multidisciplinary research and transformations in Africa’. (College of Humanities, University of Ghana Legon) 

Kuwor, S K (2012) Communication in Context, Symposium for researchers and Graduate students, University of Roehampton, London. UK 

Creative Works 

Kuwor, S. K. & Anthonio, K. (2022). Alorsorgbey, a choreographic piece that reflects holism as African thought system 

Kuwor, S. K. (2021) GMP Digital Archive for teaching African Music and Dance. An online teaching resource consisting 9 chapters and funded by the US Embassy in Accra. 

Kuwor, S. K. (2017) Interdisciplinary team building drumming workshop, University of  Ghana. Presented as part of School of Performing Arts International conference. 

Kuwor, S. K; Anthonio, K & Yartey, T (2017) Recreation of Ghanaian national identity. Performed at Blackstar square as part of Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary celebration (6th March, 2017: 10.00am- 1.00pm). 

Kuwor, S. K. (2016) Libation and Efa Divination. Tottenham Leisure Centre, London. UK. Commissioned by Noviha UK as part of Diasporic version of the Anlo’s Hogbetsotso festival (10th September, 2016: 6.00pm -10.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2015) Music and Dance in Education, Mt. Mary’s College of Education, Somanya. A combination of lecture and performance in Music and Dance. 

Kuwor, S. K, Benagr, S & Fiagbedzi, E (2014) Performing Arts in conflict resolution and peace building. Commissioned by Catholic Relieve Service. (June, 2014) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2013) ‘Jembey’ an African choreographic piece performed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) A night of African music and dance. Whitworth Gallery, University of Manchester under the auspices of Cultural Olympia through Ligua Franca on the theme, ‘Celebrating diversity of Cultures through dance’ as part of London Olympic Games (Thursday, 21st June,  2012- 7.00-9.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) Hesu, a dance piece that expresses Nkrumah’s famous statement ‘We Face Forward’. Manchester Gallery under the auspices of Cultural Olympia through Ligua Franca on the theme, ‘Celebrating diversity of Cultures through dance’ as part of London Olympic Games (Thursday, 19th July, 2012: 7.00-9.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) African dance and social integration. Crewe market square under the auspices of Mayor of Chester as part of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in North-West England (Tuesday, 7th August, 2012: 11.00am -1.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) Ghanaian traditions in dance. Michaelis Theatre, University of Roehampton, London under the auspices of Youth Dance England (Saturday, 14th July, 2012: 4.00-5.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) Breaking the Rules. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (N.T.N.U.) Trondheim, Norway under the auspices of Annual gathering of Ethno-choreologists and Dance Anthropologists (Thursday, 26thApril, 2012: 7.00-8.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2012) Libation. West Indian Centre, Manchester on the occasion of Emancipation Day Celebration under the auspices African Caribbean Association of Manchester. (Wednesday, 1stAugust, 2012: 3.00-4.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2011) Roehampton Movers in Kpatsa Dance. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway and sponsored by the European Union Fund (Thursday, 28thApril, 2011: 7.00-8.00pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2011) Sogbelisa. John Spendluffe Technology College, Alford. UK, commissioned by Trap Media Arts Agency for Black History Month Celebration. (Friday, 21stOctober, 2011: 2.30-3.30pm) 

Kuwor, S. K. (2009) Trinity. Tottenham Leisure Centre, London. Commissioned by Noviha UK in celebrating the Diasporic version of the Anlo’s Hogbetsotso festival (Saturday, 5th September, 2009: 6.00-10.00pm). 

Kuwor, S. K. (2008) Planet Steps. Swamore Technology College, Hampshire, UK. Commissioned by Wise Moves Dance Agency, Hampshire, UK for Diversity Day Celebration. (Thursday, 23rd October, 2008: 5.30-6.30pm)