Ensemble History: Music and Dance of Ghana Ensemble

The Music and Dance of Ghana Ensemble began as a study group when two drummers from Ghana -- Robert Ayitee, an Ewe, and Robert Bonsu, an Asante -- served as visiting lecturers at UCLA in during the 1966-1967 academic year. The course, Music 45D/Music 145D (Music and Dance of Ghana), was offered for the first time when Kwasi Badu began teaching at UCLA. Instructors include: Hazel Chung Hood (1964-72); Robert Ayitee (1966-67); Robert Osei Bonsu (1966-67); Kwasi Badu (1968-74); graduate student Phil Harland; Kobla Ladzekpo (1976 to the present); Beatrice Lawluvi and Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole.

For further information:
Schrag, Brian, Grooving at the Nexus: The Intersection of African Music and Euro-American Ethnomusicology at UCLA, Originally published in 2000; revised in 2009.

Ayitee and Bonsu playing Ewe drums from Ghana Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Robert Ayitee teaching drumming Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Robert Ayitee dancing with student Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Ghana students dancing and drumming Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Ghana students dancing Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Ghana students dancing Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive

Music of West Africa Ensemble (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney	Kobla Ladzekpo (2006) Photo: Todd Cheney