Browsing by Author "Dedume, Victor"

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    Artistic and educational values of Kusakɔ Kɔ initiation rites of Avatime in the Volta Region
    (2011) Dedume, Victor
    The woman is a significant figure in the development of Avatime community. People of Avatime recognize and value the role of women in society and therefore mark the transition of a female from girlhood to womanhood. The problem is that many artistic and educational values are embedded in the celebration of this transition called kusakɔkɔ initiation rites, yet they have not been described, discussed or documented, therefore they could be lost. Moreover, appreciable amounts of vital information embodied in kusakɔkɔ initiation rites are not being taught in the schools of Avatime. Sadly, the rich cultural heritage embodied in the artistic and educational values which should be preserved have not been documented to put the area in the spotlight of the world. This research adopted a qualitative approach, specifically ethnography, to collect data through observation and interviews. The main findings are that, the Avatimes mark the passage of their girls into womanhood by performing series of rituals known as kusakɔ kɔ. Numerous artistic and educational values are evident in the rituals. Artistic values are demonstrated in the use of ritualized visual and performing arts. Educationally, the performing arts serve as symbols of identity and means of communication. Recommendations were that there should be collaboration between the pastors and the custodians of Avatime traditional area to erase the notion that there are sacrilegious beliefs and superstitions embedded in kusakɔkɔ rites. It is also recommended that more group ritual activities be encouraged and done once a year for school going girls and workers to participate during school holidays and weekend respectively. Control measures should be instituted to curb promiscuity in the area. Finally, it is highly recommended that this document should be incorporated in the Art Education Curriculum to put the values of kusakɔ kɔ in the spotlight of the world.
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    Artistic and Educational Values of KUSAKɔ Kɔ initiation Rites of Avatime in the Volta Region
    (2015-04-20) Dedume, Victor
    The woman is a significant figure in the development of Avatime community. People of Avatime recognize and value the role of women in society and therefore mark the transition of a female from girlhood to womanhood. The problem is that many artistic and educational values are embedded in the celebration of this transition called kusak4 k4 initiation rites, yet they have not been described, discussed or documented, therefore they could be lost. Moreover, appreciable amounts of vital information embodied in kusak4 k4 initiation rites are not being taught in the schools of Avatime. Sadly, the rich cultural heritage embodied in the artistic and educational values which should be preserved have not been documented to put the area in the spotlight of the world. This research adopted a qualitative approach, specifically ethnography, to collect data through observation and interviews. The main findings are that, the Avatimes mark the passage of their girls into womanhood by performing series of rituals known as kusak4 k4 . Numerous artistic and educational values are evident in the rituals. Artistic values are demonstrated in the use of ritualized visual and performing arts. Educationally, the performing arts serve as symbols of identity and means of communication. Recommendations were that there should be collaboration between the pastors and the custodians of Avatime traditional area to erase the notion that there are sacrilegious beliefs and superstitions embedded in kusak4 k4 rites. It is also recommended that more group ritual activities be encouraged and done once a year for school going girls and workers to participate during school holidays and weekend respectively. Control measures should be instituted to curb promiscuity in the area. Finally, it is highly recommended that this document should be incorporated in the Art Education Curriculum to put the values of kusak4 k4 in the spotlight of the world
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    Artistic and Educational Values of Kusakɔ Kɔ Initiation Rites of Avatime in the Volta Region
    (2015-05-22) Dedume, Victor
    The woman is a significant figure in the development of Avatime community. People of Avatime recognize and value the role of women in society and therefore mark the transition of a female from girlhood to womanhood. The problem is that many artistic and educational values are embedded in the celebration of this transition called kusak) k) initiation rites, yet they have not been described, discussed or documented, therefore they could be lost. Moreover, appreciable amounts of vital information embodied in kusak) k) initiation rites are not being taught in the schools of Avatime. Sadly, the rich cultural heritage embodied in the artistic and educational values which should be preserved have not been documented to put the area in the spotlight of the world. This research adopted a qualitative approach, specifically ethnography, to collect data through observation and interviews. The main findings are that, the Avatimes mark the passage of their girls into womanhood by performing series of rituals known as kusak) k). Numerous artistic and educational values are evident in the rituals. Artistic values are demonstrated in the use of ritualized visual and performing arts. Educationally, the performing arts serve as symbols of identity and means of communication. Recommendations were that there should be collaboration between the pastors and the custodians of Avatime traditional area to erase the notion that there are sacrilegious beliefs and superstitions embedded in kusak) k) rites. It is also recommended that more group ritual activities be encouraged and done once a year for school going girls and workers to participate during school holidays and weekend respectively. Control measures should be instituted to curb promiscuity in the area. Finally, it is highly recommended that this document should be incorporated in the Art Education Curriculum to put the values of kusak) k) in the spotlight of the world.
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    Experiments in decorative hand building techniques in the plastic state
    (2004-11-24) Dedume, Victor
    One can make a host of useful and decorative items with clay, it can be gritty, earthy, soft or satiny and invites the hands to mould and shape it. Clay also abounds in Ghana and it is malleable in its raw state but when fired becomes hard and durable. It is noted that, for a very long time only a few methods have been used in Ghana to make ceramic works in the Senior Secondary Schools. These include the pinch, coil, slab and throwing methods. Most wares are also decorated only in the leather-hard or bisque state using slip painting, using engobes, glazing, incisions and indigenous firing technique. Unfortunately, due to lack of commercial engobes and glaze for ceramic decoration, a large majority of works done by students lack variety of decoration in the plastic or bisque state. This project involved some experiments to find new ways of making and decorating ceramic wares in the plastic state. The experiment involved making of small shapes or knobs of clay and using them to build ceramic wares, which serve as a form of decoration on the surface. The various activities involved, making of clay knobs, the building processes using the clay-bail pot technique, half-bail technique, button technique, short coil technique, combined technique and brick technique. These techniques were later introduced to the students of Technology Secondary School in Kumasi and tested. The result of the experiments was very successful. Different types of pots were produced with very decorative surfaces. These include, clay ball ashtray, flower vase, half-ball multi-purpose ware, penholders, clay button vase, pin container, jewel boxes etc. It was observed that the introduction of these new techniques to the students gave them a feeling of independence and self-confidence. It also promoted uniqueness, cooperation, tolerance and patience. It enhanced the aesthetic quality of their ceramic works. It is however strongly recommended that the introduction of these techniques to other S.S.S ceramic students in the country and incorporating them in their syllabus will go a long way to bring variety of ceramic decoration in the green state or bisque state.