By John Owoo

(In Accra – Ghana)                      

A new dance / video art production titled “bodyRealities – cityCodes” – which deals with the complex structures of Accra and its inhabitants – will in September 2017 premiere at the Tanzfaktur, which is located in the German city of Cologne.

Featuring Ghanaian dancers Mark Lomotey / Alfred Quarshie and produced by DIN A 13 Dance Company (Germany), it examines the impact that places, landscapes, locations as well as personal experiences have on individual body memories and how these spaces are reflected in physical movement.

The piece further scrutinizes the human body as a living sign of its culture and architectural habitat – what we do with our bodies, how we deal with it, how we use it, what attitudes we exhibit from it, how we evaluate it, how it feels and what significance we attribute to it – are shaped by the society and culture we live in.

Together with German filmmakers Miriam Jakobs and Gerhard Schick, choreographer Gerda König managed to trace these contexts in parts of Sri Lanka in 2016. Currently, the research has led the artistic team to various parts of the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

In Accra, they found rural structures in informal settlements and slums that extend along a river front, a railway track, a street with high-rise buildings where the values and products of globalization seem unattainable for a majority of the population behind these shiny glass façades.

The attempt to understand a city and its people inevitably leads to a confrontation with past and modern-day slavery – undeniably, the consequences of colonization and globalization. Accra is indeed a melting pot of the past and present consisting of different ethnic groups, languages and cultures.

The sociology of the human body, as a sub area of sociology, deals with the interpenetration of body and society. Although the body is part of nature and as such subject to its laws, the way in which this natural side of the body is perceived, valued and lived depends on the epoch, culture, and society.

The basic goal of the sociology of the body is to work out how the human body is to be understood as a social phenomenon. Consequently, the project analyzes the processes in which the body becomes the product and the producer of society.

DIN A 13 Dance Company is one of the few dance ensembles comprising dancers with different bodily capabilities. By means of continual artistic and conceptual development of their productions, DIN A 13 has managed to become one of the globally leading mixed-abled dance ensembles.

The artistic approach taken by the company is marked by the exploration and visualization of the quality of movement inherent in “differing bodies” whose diversity forms the basis for the choreographic work.

Gerda König challenges viewing habits and normative ideals found in contemporary dance while enriching it through new impulses. Consequently, assumed frontiers and evaluations between special bodily dispositions and a dancer’s peak performance become dissolved in choreographic pictures, posing questions and inviting one to enter into an artistic dialogue.

She perpetually searches for contrast and provocation in her choreographic pictures, mirroring the human tension between inner and social conflicts. The unexpectedness of another body becomes the aesthetic experience whose expressiveness shows new benchmarks of quality.

“bodyRealities – cityCodes” is being sponsored by Landschaftsverband Rheinland, German Ministry for Family, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports of the country Northrhine Westfalia, the Cultural Office of the city Cologne, Aktion Mensch, Art Foundation NRW, Kämpgen Foundation, Beatrix-Lichtken Foundation, Goethe-Institut Ghana, iDAS nrw and Fonds Soziokultur, npn.

Pictures:- David Schmenger

By John Owoo

(At The University of Ghana – Legon)

Dr. Frank George Bernasko, a medical officer with the Presbyterian Hospital in Akyem Agogo last week won the 2017 edition of Falling Walls Lab, which was held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Founded by the Falling Walls Foundation with support from A.T. Kearney in Central Europe, the competition aims at connecting aspiring innovators, discover and develop talents, support interdisciplinary dialogue / international cooperation, and develop new ways of scientific communication while building up new and strong networks.

Dr Bernasko presented a cost effective system that will be mounted on the surface of the sea and effectively tap energy from both incoming and receding waves to generate and supply electricity to local communities at moderate charges.

Eric Opoku Osei from the University of Ghana (Legon) and Dr. Nii Amu Dodoo from the Kwame Nkumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi), took the second and third positions at the keenly contested competition, which involved twenty-two participants from diverse tertiary institutions and organizations throughout the country.

Presentations include solutions to water pollution, manufacturing trucks with local content to clean open drains, use of folklore to contain sanitation problems, effective dissemination of research findings, fresh water governance and use of simple equipment to curtail malaria infections.

Others are ending the perennial leakage of examination papers, global warming, plastic bag pollution, youth unemployment, adulteration / unsustainable use of plants for herbal medicine and alcoholic beverages, domestic violence and the eradication of illiteracy and superstition.

In a message to the participants, Bernhard Ables, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Accra, said it is time to break down walls through science, politics, arts and diverse areas of endeavors adding that this is significant as the fall of the Berlin wall is in its 28^th year.

Members of a jury that vetted the presentations include Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (Dean, School of Languages – University of Ghana), Prof Mansa Prah (formerly of the University of Cape Coast), Prof. Felix Asante (Director, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research – University of Ghana) and Maximilian Butek (Country Director, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana).

The rest are Dr. Wazi Apoh (Head, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies – University of Ghana), Dr. Francis Boateng Agyenim (Director, Institute of Industrial Research), Dr. Rosina Kyeremanten (Director, ARPPIS – University of Ghana), Director – Association of Ghana Industries) and Dr. Godfrey Mills (Head, Department of Computer Engineering – University of Ghana).

The programme was organized and supported by the Falling Walls Foundation (Germany), DAAD Information Centre and the Goethe-Institut – both in Accra.

By John Owoo

(At the Goethe-Institut in Accra)

Dancehall artist Blaq Originata last week drew wild cheers from students celebrating the 10^th edition of the National German Cultural Festival, which ended last week at the Goethe-Institut in Accra.

Accompanied by six tactful dancers, the young musician worked his way into the hearts of over 500 students, with a charismatic stagecraft and poise that swayed them. In the process, several students and teachers joined the dancers on stage as Originata’s voice soared through the rather warm air.

With a combination of dancehall, highlife and hiplife, Originata treated the audience to memorable tunes and robust tempos as a lot of varieties in terms of emotions and themes echoed musically and lyrically throughout the performance.

“Blaq Originata is an up and coming musician with a mission – this is the second time I have seen him on stage. Each time he manages to pull crowds onto the stage, either to join in singing or dancing”, said Yaa Oppong Manu, a student in Accra.

Through swift and subtle movements, the dancers engaged the audience in a dialogue as movement after movement attracted copycat actions by the students, who cheered and called for more performances by the dancers.

Indeed, it was a show with rhythm – the singing and dancing appeared to converge and rise into the atmosphere as agile bodies from the talented young dancers moved with controlled intensity and in complete harmony.

“It was raw fun – we enjoyed every bit of the concert since we identify ourselves with the music. The crowd actually went wild with joy as the band unleashed uplifting sounds on them”, added Eric Adepa, a student in Kumasi.

Earlier, the students engaged in a creative competition, which was won by the Goethe-Institut in Accra. They showcased their artistic creations on a futuristic concept through music, theatre and dance to cheers from their peers.

Opening the festival, the German Ambassador to Ghana H.E. Christoph Retzlaff called on students to take serious the study of languages in order to reap its numerous benefits as they begin their careers in various disciplines.

He charged the students, who were drawn from various parts of the country to concentrate on their books, follow their dreams and aim for the very best after their graduation from universities and other academic institutions.

Germany he stated is a country of science and technology and has very good relations with Ghana adding that there are scholarship and fellowship schemes available for qualified Ghanaian students and urged the students to take advantage of them.

The ambassador revealed that although the German language is not officially on the curriculum of most schools, there are several clubs throughout Ghana that are teaching German with the support of the Goethe-Institut in Accra thereby ensuring the growth of teaching of the German language.

Titled “Die Zukunft Beginnt Jetzt” (The Future Starts Now), the festival was opened by the German Ambassador to Ghana HE Christoph Retzlaff. Goethe-Institut in Accra, Ghana Association of Teachers of German and the German Academic Exchange Service organized the festival.

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

A refreshing duet by Tunisian guitarist Rami Zoghlemi and singer Sabrine Jenhani swayed a capacity crowd at the Palais Des Congrès in Tunis through melodies that appeared to be in similar ranges yet sustaining in momentum.

Performing on the 5^th day of Carthage Music Festival, Jenhani sang with amazing depth and sensibility through profound lyrics and restrained compositions as wild guitar lines from Zoghlemi traversed the auditorium.

Vocalist Emma Lamadji from the Central African Republican band Free River, who is noted for a formidable voice, appeared to sing from the bottom of her heart and soul as cheers and applause flowed from the audience, who exhibited intense excitement.

She drew more appreciation as she ignored technical challenges and continued to sing while light beams ricocheted on the stage and auditorium as jazzy rhythms flowed from the obviously experienced instrumentalists.

At the Avenue Bourgiba, which is located in the center of Tunis, Gambian / British kora sensation Sona Jobarteh exhibited her ability to flow with all kinds of styles as she established immediate communication with the audience.

The first female kora player to come out of a renowned griot family, she wooed the crowd with a charismatic voice, memorable tunes and robust tempos as a lot of varieties in terms of tonalities, emotions and themes echoed musically and lyrically.

Comprising a group of zealous musicians, Tunisian band Ghoula, which was formed by composer Wael Jegham, equally enchanted the rather youthful audience with uniform instrumentation alongside dreamy sounds.

With members from Morocco, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Mozambique, Jokko Band turned the evening into a memorable one with diverse instruments from several cultures, which generated deep interest from the crowd, who were obviously transported to various countries and cultures in sub Saharan Africa.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends today Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

Diverse music styles and dramatic fusion of rhythms continue to characterize the ongoing Carthage Music Festival in Tunis as music enthusiasts and critics savor recent artistic creations from various parts of Africa.

Cheering crowds at the Palais Des Congrès were thrilled with a rather compelling performance by Egyptian group Hawas through an equable presentation of tunes akin to folk songs accompanied by slow rhythms.

Despite an uncanny problem with vocals, the band, which comprise artists from diverse musical backgrounds nonetheless shifted into high tempo and treated the audience to a variety of communicable tunes.

Tunisian band Sanaat mounted the stage with infectious and contagious lyrics laced with contemporary issues that charmed the audience, who cheered, applauded and demanded more from the group.

Cine Vog, which is located near the rocky beaches of Kram, a town in the Tunis Governorate, hosted a brief but mesmeric concert that ignited the hall with rapid changing paces while showcasing their mastery of instruments.

Comprising several hip-hop stars from the suburbs of Tunis, El Banda band immediately attracted the attention of young members of the audience with messages that they identify with as they danced and applauded.

Violinist Zied Zouari presented himself as an inter generational artist with a successful fusion of Nubian, Bedouin rhythms with hip-hop, electro, dub and beat box thereby satisfying all age groups in the crowd.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

 Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

Morrocan group Aywa, last night set the Palais des Congrès in Tunis ablaze with a magical performance that engaged the constant attention of the audience, who chanted and sang alongside the charismatic artists.

Performing at the 2017 edition of Carthage Music Festival, the group showcased a magnetic stage presence while a variety of instruments worked beautifully with the talented singer Abdil Smaali.

Through a shrewd mixture of various rhythms including jazz, rock and funk with Moroccan rhythms, the group consolidated its popularity with the fans as they moved closer for a sustained dance in front of the stage.

“The concert was an electrical one – the audience had a wonderful time with the musicians, who appeared to be equally enjoying themselves. Their highly charged rhythms and poise of the singer added to the fun”, said Yozri Lakkani, a teacher in Tunis.

It was a curiously entertaining evening as Tunisian heavy metal group Nawather moved on stage. Despite a cool blend with oriental music, part of the audience appeared fazed while others cheered the group.

Nevertheless, they played as if they are the last standing band in a war zone – drowning intense heavy metal in the theatre as a lady vocalist crisscrossed the stage at regular intervals while reminding the audience of how potent they can be.

“It was raw fun – we enjoyed every bit of the concert since we do identify with the music. The crowd actually went wild with joy as the band unleashed uplifting sounds on them”, added Sarah Abdel, a student in Tunis.

In an earlier concert at the famous Avenue Bourgiba, located in the centre of Tunis, Egyptian group Fayrouz Karawya treated an enthusiastic crowd to an amalgam of jazz and traditional rhythms that drew cheers from members of the audience.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

An unflappable blend of symphonic music with traditional Tunisian instruments, songs and dances lighted up the plush Palais des Congrès in Tunis during one of the performances at the ongoing Carthage Music Festival.

Conducted by Sabri Aouni, who played the oud at the same time, the group kept the audience spellbound as they effectively fused traditional themes with orchestral interpretations while showcasing a brilliant mixture of local and western instruments.

Violins, saxophones, trombones, trumpets alongside tabla, derbouka, nay, zokra and others produced sounds that were amazingly bold and theatrical – as a variety of diverse rhythms moved into each other with remarkable ease.

With beautifully focused voices that flew through the air like birds in flight, the contrasting sounds equally inundated the hall while six lined up tablas announced their presence with subtle and loud notes of originality.

In spite of blurry endings, the show was an energetic and passionate performance, which attracted constant cheers as talented dancers constantly moved their arms and torsos in unison with rhythms and songs.

Youthful pianist Wadji Riahi and the North Africa band tickled the crowd with jazzy tunes laced with restrained local flavours. Indeed, with teasing glimpses of inspirational sounds, the group delivered a classic performance worthy of acclaim.

Powered by a lone flute and guitar – and later a huge tabla drum – the group endeared themselves to the hearts of members of the audience with a rendition that bordered on the edge of fusing jazz and Tunisian music.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Access World, Samaris Events, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions, RFI, Media Net, Cult Art, Africable, Femmes, Sonlines, Silo and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet

By John Owoo

(In Tunis – Tunisia)

Tunisian group Dyslexia last night sent music lovers at the Palais des Congrès in Tunis on a musical journey that showcased outstanding beats, amazing solos and cross rhythms that seemed to surprise the audience.

Led by Mahmoud Turki, who appeared to sing from the bottom of his heart, the group surprised the audience by living up to their name with compositions that left the audience struggling to interpret their music.

With diverse instruments including “gombri” and “oud”, – closely clipped rhythms propelled the band into motion as compelling flute work encompassed the modern theatre, thereby turning the performance into a throw back that brought nostalgic feelings to the crowd.

“The group delighted us – I enjoyed the eloquent solo playing as they kept us in suspense with diverse rhythms as well as a soulful voice from Turki, whose stage presence and control are quite phenomenal”, said Nour Abdel Kaffi, a musician in Tunis.

In another performance at the same venue, Helwes – collaboration between Nour Hamdani and the collective Aytma was more upbeat with smacks of rhyme, which was somehow lost on foreigners in the audience as they transmitted messages on healing.

The atmosphere of intensity and stillness continued as the bandsmen moved into an exuberant and detailed mode while appealing to minds to aspire reaching spirituality by harmonizing environmental energy.

Towards the end, the band became energized, employing an augmented version of some tunes while adding additional rhythms that appeared to explode into synthesized compositions.

“The stage was constantly alive and the energy was awesome – although there was no hint of dancing, there was a significant dose of theatrical trappings”, added Mohammed Adnan, a dancer in Tunis.

Earlier crowds defied showers at the Avenue Bourgiba in down town Tunis when Moroccan enigmatic band N3rdistan mounted the stage with a subtle exploration of Maghreb varieties, rock and a fine amalgam of dub and oriental melodies.

Sybel, Tunis Air, Ben Jemåa Motors, Travel Todo, Institut Français, Samaris Events, Africable, Bitaka Group, Teskerti, RFI, TUNIS Visions and many others are supporting the festival, which ends on Saturday April 15.

Photo Credits:

Wiem Ben Amor

Amina Barhoumi

Eya Zgolli

Najjar Hella

Snoussi Lidhieb

Ines Rezgui

Elyes Aouinet