USA: Volta Council Of State Member Engages Students At University Of North Texas

Texas – Aug. 28 – 24HourNews – The Volta Regional Council of State Member, H.E. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, has engaged students at the University of North Texas (UNT), USA, as a guest lecturer, sharing insights into the historical significance, cultural value and economic potential of Ghanaian traditional music and dance.

The interactive session formed part of efforts to promote Ghanaian culture, deepen cultural diplomacy and expose American students to the richness of Africa’s heritage.

Addressing the students, H.E. Kwamigah-Atokple traced the role of traditional music in Ghana’s history, explaining that beyond entertainment, drums like the Atumpan and Fontomfrom were used in pre-colonial times as sophisticated tools for long-distance communication, summoning communities for communal labour, announcing festivals and funerals, and mobilising warriors for community protection.

He noted that traditional music and dance embody the philosophy, values and resilience of the Ghanaian people, and stressed the need for deliberate preservation in the face of globalisation.

He also challenged the students to see African cultural heritage not only as history but as a viable creative economy, urging them to explore innovative ways of documenting, teaching, monetising and integrating traditional rhythms into contemporary music production, film scoring and cultural tourism.

The encounter also provided an opportunity to interact with renowned Ghanaian traditional musician, master drummer and Professor of Percussion at UNT, Prof. Gideon Alorwoyie, affectionately known as Togbui Foli Amanyo III, who was delivering practical lessons to his students on African drumming techniques.

Prof. Alorwoyie, an Ewe native, has for decades been a cultural ambassador in the United States, teaching generations of students African percussion, dance and history.

H.E. Kwamigah-Atokple commended Prof. Alorwoyie for his outstanding work in keeping Ghanaian culture alive on the global stage and described the meeting as inspiring.

The session was described by participants as a proud moment of Ghanaian culture, knowledge and heritage on the global stage, and a reminder of the power of culture to bridge continents.