Traditional Ingenuity in Ghanaian Atumpan Drum Construction (From Locally Obtainable ‘Cordia Millenii’)

The forest abounds in different species of trees that the African wood carver capitalizes on to make artefacts. Design and construction of drums particularly in the form of wood art has been in existence for so many years. The purpose of this article is to highlight on the design of traditional carving of Atumpan drum as an excellent art work; As an artwork, its nature, design elements and production process have been discussed. The selection of appropriate wood and design motifs for production and their symbolism have also been considered. Descriptive research method based on the qualitative research approach was employed. This study shows an important distinction between the seeing, viewing, and liking of a specific piece of art and lack of understanding. The investigation of creativeness in the art requires some theoretical originality to enable the development of an effective research method capable of subtly reporting upon original artistic activity. The study states that traditional methods and approaches of Atumpan drum carving must be revived in order to give room for creativity which is indispensable for any development to happen. Key words: Drum, Atumpan drum, Body measurement, Carving, Art forms, Classical, Creativity

Digitalization of Demonstration Method of Teaching and Effective Vocational Skills Delivery in Ghana Tertiary Institutions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difficulties tutors face when using the traditional demonstration method of teaching for vocational skills delivery especially in large class sizes. The study also aimed to modernise the demonstration method for effective vocational skills delivery in Ghana tertiary institutions. The study employed Solomon four quasi-experimental research design. The study targeted tutors and students offering textiles related (fabric and leather decoration) component of vocational skills programme in Ghana Colleges of Education. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used. The sample size for the study was 322 (320 students & tutors). The instruments used for data collection were interview guide, observation and skills achievement tests. The study revealed that tutors faced a lot of difficulties when using the traditional demonstration method of teaching for skills delivery in large vocational skills classes. The study also found that the students in experimental groups that were taught using the digital demonstration approach had higher scores on the skills achievement test conducted than those in the control groups that were taught using the traditional demonstration method of teaching. The study recommended that tutors should use digital demonstration method of teaching when vocational skills class size is large. Devices for effective use of the digital demonstration method should be provided to reduce the difficulties tutors faced when using the traditional demonstration method for skills delivery in large class sizes. Keywords: Traditional demonstration method of teaching, digital demonstration method of teaching, effective, large class sizes. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/84-05 Publication date:August 31st 202

Utility of Skins and Leather in Selected Chiefs’ Palaces in the Ahanta Traditional Area

The Ghanaian chieftaincy system is embedded with rich cultural heritage that is sometimes expressed through art. Only few documentation have been focused on skin and leather related articles in chieftaincy; with notions of whether skins and leather feature in chieftaincy practices in the South of Ghana oblivious to many as these have not been voiced out. This paper presents and discusses findings with regard to the utility of skins and leather in selected chiefs’ palaces in the Ahanta Traditional Area. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample population of 16 respondents from whom data was collected using observation and interviews as tools. Findings from the study showed that skins and leather featured prominently in chieftaincy practices in the study zone as ceremonial, body and household items; but documentation of this information was limited. It is recommended that findings from this study be placed at the library of institutions such as the Ahanta Traditional Council, Ghana Tourist Authority and Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts as reference material for academics and students of Visual Arts, African Studies, Tourism and Arts and Culture to access. Keywords: Skins, Leather, Ghanaian Chieftaincy, Art Forms

Dialectical Sculptural Experimentations of Postmodern Sculpture in Ghanaian Context

Commemorative and allegorical sculptures are very important constituents in the spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal art forms of any given community or people. This is because, not only are they symbolic, they also represent important landmarks in the history of the people. Constricting formal configuration of commemorative narratives in Ghana is the neoclassical concept of the monument which is heavily modelled on an “idealist myth” (Krauss, 1981,) However exhuming medieval spatial metaphors, this paper expounds how pole ideologies in history Vis a Vis current thought have informed and thus negotiated and expanded the frontiers of formal aesthetic dialogues. Attention will be drawn to the oversubscribed ‘idealist’ ideals (like frontality, the figure, the pedestal and preference for the noble media like stone, wood, bronze ivory cement etc.) in the expressing of commemorative sculpture in Ghana as if it were the modus- operandi. Finally, a research work which used ‘Fante’ proverbs as its principal reference point is introduced not to only seek a defiance of these academic conventions but also explore the vernacular qualities of found media (ready- made) specifically scrap metals which have had former lives before and thus fraught with in context meaning to a new aesthetic end. Keywords: narratives, readymade, hybridity, dualism, dialectic, idealism, materialism, minimalism. DOI: 10.7176/ADS/83-04 Publication date:July 31st 202

The Impact of Industrial Practical Skills on Fashion students in Ghanaian Polytechnics (A case Study of Kumasi and Accra Polytechnics)

The main objective of the research was to determine the importance of students industrial practical  skills program in the curriculum of the polytechnic education, how well the program is organized, its benefits and challenges that confront the organization. The research used qualitative method of collecting data using questionnaires and interviews. In all a total of 200 questionnaires were administered and 195 were returned. The population comprised of students on the program, past students, employers of fashion industries and homes and liaison officers from the two study areas. Qualitative and quantitative means were used to present the data in the form of charts, tables and texts. The most significant results were that students and the school were the main financiers of the program and finding places for the program was still a difficult task for both students and school. The rating for the organization of the program showed that 44.1% of the respondents rated it as average, 25.9% as good or excellent whilst 29.96% rated it as poor.  More than 2/3 (76.29%) of the employers benefitted very much from the program as against the rest, (23.6%) which either did not benefit much or not at all. While less than 2/3 (64.10%) of the past students were employed based on prior experience on the program, (35.9%) were employed using different criteria.  Suffice to that more than 9/10 (95. 24%) of the respondents reported of the program being either very important or important as against a few (4.76%) considering it as less important. Two-thirds (66.7%) of employers preferred engaging the services of people with industrial practical experience whereas the rest (33.3%) not using that as prerequisite for employment. The notable challenges that confronted students on the program were 37.4% financial, 30.53% accommodation, 20.61% less attention from the places of attachment with the rest 6.1% and 5.34% accounting for disrespect from workers and other challenges respectively. It was also realized that most (63.3%) of the trainees found it difficult while looking for placement with the rest (37.6%) seeing it otherwise. In spite of the challenges, close to total respondents of (98.85%) were either satisfied or very satisfied with the program.  The principal conclusion was that though majority of the students were satisfied with the program pragmatic steps should be taken to improve it. Keywords: Industrial Practical Skills, Polytechnic Education, TVET, Fashion Departmen

Examining factors that promotes continuity of artistic perspectives: The case of Anlo traditional marriage system in Ghana

The Anlo Ewe are a sub-group of the Ewe people of approximately 6 million people, inhabiting southern Togo, Southern Benin, Southwest Nigeria, and South-eastern parts of the Volta Region of Ghana; meanwhile, a majority of Ewe are located in the entire southern half of Togo and southwest Benin. This study however, focused on the role of arts and cultural perspectives in traditional marriages of the Anlo sub-group of Ghana. This study will go a long way to add onto the existing research on African marriage contexts