Awareness Level of Environmental Aesthetics on KNUST Campus, Kumasi, Ghana: A Descriptive Account

An interest in the aesthetics of the environment is part of a broader response to environmental problems, and creating public awareness is a pragmatic positive action towards environmental issues. The purpose of this paper is to find the level of awareness and perception of the beauty of the natural as well as the built environments of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) campus, Kumasi, Ghana, aimed at promoting environmental protection. The study provides a descriptive account of the awareness of environmental aesthetics through the employment of a quantitative methodology. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to students and staff as the sole data collection instrument and analysed to identify whether or not people were aware of the aesthetic aspects of the environment and whether or not this awareness could impact positively on the protection of the environment. A significant gap in the literature regarding the awareness of the nature of environmental aesthetics was identified. The criticality that such conscious awareness of the beauty of the environment is asserted, with a view towards illuminating various aesthetic elements in various environmental goods and working towards improved aesthetic natural and built environments. Keywords: awareness, environmental aesthetics, built environment, natural environmen

Gurene Utilitarian Basketry Arts: A Critical Discourse

The Gurene people in the Upper East Region of Ghana have a variety of notable utilitarian basketry articles which are used in many cultural applications in the Gurene society. These category of basketry articles, even though very important in the day-to-day activities of the Gurene people, are not extensively researched into. This study sought to identify, describe and underpin the functions of these basketry articles, in order to underpin their socio-cultural relevance among the Gurene people. Ethnographic research design was used. 85 respondents were sampled for the study using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Primary data was collected using observations, interviews and focus group discussions and analysed thematically, using NVivo 9 qualitative data analysis package. The findings showed that the basketry articles are employed in agricultural and culinary activities such as harvesting, carting of farm produce, storage of grains, rearing of livestock, winnowing, and food preparations. Also, some are utilised in burial and funeral rites, expended as architectural accoutrements, and applied as containers and carriers which are used in selling diverse items in the Gurene society.Keywords: Gurene basketry, baskets, ethnic artefacts, utilitarian basketry arts, fibre arts.DOI: 10.7176/ADS/80-03Publication date: January 31st 202

Challenges Associated with the Content of the Art History Component in the General Knowledge in Art Subject: Implications for Art History Education in West Africa

The content of the Art History component in the General Knowledge in Art subject studied by various Senior High Schools in West Africa is largely of foreign art histories at the expense of the histories of African indigenous arts which are shallowly presented in the teaching syllabus to be taught students. This makes the students appreciate more of the artistic cultural heritage of foreign countries making them handicapped in the historical knowledge concerning their own rich African indigenous arts that identifies them as a people. Adentwi (2005) concurs that the content of an area of study must help learners to develop skills, values, norms, and attitudes that are considered peculiar to the society of the learner. A critical analysis of the content of the General Knowledge in Art subject proves contrary. There was therefore the urgency and utmost relevance to carry out a research to ascertain reasons why the content of the art history component of the General Knowledge in Art subject is foreign biased and advise on how there can be a balance of it with the African indigenous art histories  in the General Knowledge in Art. The researcher gathered data from primary and secondary sources by way of interviews, administration of questionnaire, as well as non-participant observation under the theoretical and qualitative research approaches.  Descriptive research method, Case Study approach and Document Analysis were adopted for this study. Eighty-Five respondents consisting of General Knowledge in Art tutors and General knowledge in Art students from five schools in the Ashanti region, Eastern Region and Greater Accra Region and W.A.E.C. Examiners as well as members of the Curriculum Research Development Division of the Ministry of Education were purposively and stratified Randomly sampled  for the study. The study maintains that the content of the art history component of the General Knowledge in Art subject has to be reviewed by incorporating more of the histories of the indigenous Art from Africa. It puts forward proactive suggestions to the Curriculum and Research Development Division of various Educational Centers and other agencies responsible for making educational decisions on how they can intensify the study of African indigenous art histories in the General Knowledge in Art subject. This would greatly assist in the promotion, propagation, preservation and instruction of West African students on the indigenous African Art histories. Keywords: African Indigenous Arts, Art history, Curriculum, General Knowledge in Art (G.K.A), Learning Outcom

Symbolic Representation And Socio-Cultural Significance Of Selected Akan Proverbs In Ghana

Although Akan proverbs of the Twi-speaking people of Ghana are creatively crafted speeches with beautiful and rich values that make lengthy statements short; and spoken in a cultured way for communication of traditional values, the influx of foreign languages in Ghana has contributed to the rapid decline in the standards of this cherished Akan indigenous linguistics. These proverbs embody deep symbolic and socio-cultural values of the Akan people of the Ghanaian society. This paper showcases 20 visual symbols, created from the selected proverbs by the researchers, of selected Akan proverbs with the aim of making them regain their past glory and to promote visual literacy. In highlighting the significance of these selected proverbs, the study employed art-based technique of a qualitative research approach to represent them graphically. Based upon the findings of the socio-cultural values embedded in these proverbs, this paper recommends that more symbols should be created using the numerous proverbs and wise sayings that are in existence in our local languages to salvage the declining image of those proverbs as an important component of African art for communication. Keywords: Adinkra, Akan proverbs, Asante-Twi, philosophical, socio-cultural, symbolic, Twi, visual literac

The Hybridity in the Rites of Passage among the Ewe Ethnic Society in the Kumasi Metropolis

This study investigated the rites of passage of the Ewe ethnic society in the Kumasi Metropolis. It discusses the influence of the Asante host culture’s rites of passage on the Ewe ethnic society’s culture resulting in the hybridity of culture as a result of migration. The study was driven in a purely qualitative study with descriptive study as the study design. Thirty (30) study participants consisting of chiefs, elders in the traditional court and the elderly in the study area. Personal interviews and focus group discussions were the data collection tools used for collecting the data for the study. The findings of the study revealed that the Ewe cultural practices exhibited in the Kumasi metropolis is as a result of hybridity. The study contends that as the Ewes play their culture alongside the host culture-Asante culture, they consciously and unconsciously fuse and or substitute their indigenous culture which has virtually merged or replace their culture. Keywords: Value, Rites of Passage, Acculturation, Enculturation, Ethnicity, Cultural Hybridity DOI: 10.7176/JCSD/62-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

Adinkra: An Epitome of Asante Philosophy and History

This paper investigated into the philosophical and historical representations of the celebrated Adinkra cloth production using the case study approach at Ntonso in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Data were solicited through personal and telephone interview as well as participant observation from respondents who were purposively sampled.  The study revealed that the Badie dye was locally obtained and prepared using the barks from the Badie tree. There are no additives mixed with the prepared dye as purported by several writers. It was also realized that the entire Adinkra cloth process from the acquisition of the tools and materials, production processes and the symbols usually printed in the cloth was firmly rooted in an interesting and thought provoking philosophical and historical foundation which portrays the African as a wise, creative artist. The study more importantly voiced out that though Asantes and Africans in general usually do not have written documentaries of their histories and philosophy that in anyway does not imply that these literally are absent. The rich artistic productions of residents in Africa are in fact a visual representation of their unadulterated histories and philosophies. The Adinkra cloth is but one example of such inspiring assets of the Asantes that are repositories of their rich philosophy and history.   Keywords: Adinkra Cloth; History; Philosophy; Badie dy

Documenting Selected Artefacts of the Royal Regalia of Akwamumanhene

This study which identifies and reviews selected artefacts of the Akwamuhene royal regalia was conducted at the Bogyawe palace in Akwamufie. The research tools employed were questionnaire, observation and interviews to collect and investigate relevant cultural knowledge on the royal regalia of the Akwamuhene. Using the appropriate research instruments, for purposeful analysis and interpretation, the artefacts were documented hence, served as a means of preservation. There were 65 respondents who were interviewed using an interview guide and 30 of respondents were given questionnaire.  The respondents for the study provided names, myths, history, philosophies and significance of the artefacts that make up the royal regalia. The study thus focused on selected royal regalia belonging to the Akwamuhene comprising a variety of royal artforms and monuments such as deities, drums, clothes, palanquins, stools, chairs, Akyeame (spokespersons) staff, swords and sword ornaments, traditional sandals, headgears, jewellery and platforms. Keywords: Regalia, Culture, Symbolism, Deity, Drum, Head Gear, Stool House, Keys DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-10-01 Publication date:May 31st 202

The symbolic significance of motifs on selected Asante religious temples

Asante temples are small edifices built over 100 or 200 years ago to house the shrines of some of the deities of the Asante. They are adorned with beautiful motifs which are a body of knowledge about the culture of the Asante, yet not much scholarly work has been done on these motifs on the temples. As a result, a lot of Ghanaians do not know much about the motifs on the traditional temples. This research therefore presents a brief history of selected Asante temples and the symbolic significance of their motifs. The research revealed that the motifs are a storehouse of information regarding the religious beliefs and social norms of the Asante. They enlighten us about symbolism in Asante art and serve as decorations on the temples. The symbols represent concepts and beliefs personified in human and animal forms and geometric shapes. They as well echo some philosophies and wise sayings of the Asante

A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF CULTURAL EDUCATION AND CONSCIOUSNESS ON ARCHITECTURE IN GHANA

The National Commission on Culture was established in 1999 with the mandate to promote a “national culture”. The Commission as part of its roles developed the 2004 National Cultural Policy. One aspect of the policy worth consideration is cultural education which is expected to positively impact on public architecture. This study aimed to assess the extent of the policy’s achievements with respect to cultural education and its impact on architecture, after nearly 18 years of its existence. The study adopted the narrative method of qualitative research methodology.  Non-probabilistic sampling techniques namely; purposive and snowball were used to sample 30 key respondents from Accra, Kumasi and Tamale to arrive at the findings of the study. The study revealed that the policy has not achieved much of its objectives regarding architectural development. The study revealed that the general architectural landscape shows little or no programmed attempt at incorporating culture into national architecture. This is attributed to the absence of effective cultural education and consciousness of the citizenry, lack of effective dissemination of the policy to the implementing stakeholders including architects, artists, educators etc., lack of funding and power of enforcement. The study puts forward six recommendations for policy direction aimed at addressing the challenges that militate against the achievement of Ghana’s National Cultural Policy objective on architecture

Building the capacity of students in creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills: Aesthetic narrative of Ayigya Township, Ghana

The study set out to investigate the environmental aesthetics present in habitual areas, specifically in Ayigya Township, Ashanti Region, focusing on picture-making tendencies for optimal skill development. A total of 346 respondents from various structures were specifically chosen to participate in the study using the Narrative Case Study Design under the qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews, observation, and photographic documentation were used for the data collection. The data were analysed using photographic documentary and qualitative narrative analysis. The findings demonstrated how dispersed aesthetic elements are in everyday life and how this appreciation would have a positive impact on the Senior High School student’s capacity for creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It is suggested that students develop alternative means of expressing their creativity. The study contends that art teachers must help students to use aesthetics in their environments to develop the tools and materials for their artistic productions