Music professors Jennifer Caputo and Andrew Dewar recently traveled to the small village of Kopeyia in Ghana, Africa to gather research on Ghanaian culture and musical influence.
Caputo, the creator of The University of Alabama’s African Drum Ensemble, named Ghanaian music her top research area upon her arrival at the University in 1998. Since then, she set her sights on a University-funded research trip.
“I finally had the opportunity to visit Africa for a research trip this year,” Caputo said. “The timing was just right for me to use the funding to go to Ghana to gather my own personal research and the research for the performance ensemble. I hope to eventually bring my students from UA to Kopeyia for a summer study abroad program.”
The research gathering excursion’s primary focus was to add to the ensemble’s already impressive repertoire. A visit from a long-time contact of Caputo’s, Emmanuel Agbeli, made the culturally rich addition possible.
Agbeli is the director of the Dagbe Arts Center and Cultural Institute in the village of Kopeyia, Ghana, which is located in the Volta region near the Togo border.
“We hosted him at The University of Alabama for a short, five day residency,” Caputo said. “The ensemble was very excited that Emmanuel came to visit us. It was sort of a burst of energy. The group showed more interest and enthusiasm in performing. Having someone from Ghana showcase the music and tell them firsthand about his village, about his culture. I think that was really fantastic.”
According to Caputo, Emmanuel’s late father, Godwin Agbeli, founded the Dagbe Center in 1982. For the past 28 years, the Dagbe Center has held connections to interested World Music programs across the American South.
“I became aware of the connection about ten years ago because of several other U.S. institutions that have contact with the Dagbe Center,” Caputo said. “I’m more interested in building a mutually beneficial relationship between the UA and Ghanaian people. Not only beneficial for them, with the assistance given, but beneficial for U.S. participants as well, as a meaningful, life-changing experience for the students, really focusing on how music and art and cultural exchanges can be sustainable on both ends.”
Caputo said she hopes to organize another research trip abroad before 2012 for herself and the interested members of her ensemble.
“I just want to make sure that they get a safe trip, a worthwhile trip, and a similar trip to the way I would run it,” Caputo said.
Caputo’s recording assistant, Dewar, took this opportunity to do a bit of research of his own. The jazz musician met up with two Ghanaian flutists and a fellow saxophonist to discuss technique and rhythmic inspiration.
For those interested in joining the drumming ensemble, Caputo said the UA African Drumming Ensemble is a class for one credit through the school of music.
“It is open to anyone,” Caputo said. “You do not have to have music or dance experience. The way I run this ensemble is the way it would traditionally be run in a village setting, where everyone can participate to his or her ability. I try to incorporate everyone who shows interest, and my students don’t have to worry about grading, just confidently performing.”
