THE Department of Archaeology of the University of Ghana, Legon, is to establish a museum on material culture to document all indigenous artifacts as a means of preserving the country’s heritage.
The project, which forms part of the expansion of the department’s scope, is being supported by the British Museum and the British Council among others, Dr Kodzo Gavua, Head of the department, announced this at the launch of the first African Folk Music Festival (AFMUFEST) to be organised by the Legon Archaeology Students Association in Accra on March 31.
He said that the department would be renamed the Department of Cultural and Heritage Studies to reflect the scope of the expansion programme.
Dr Gavua said that the department will, from the 2008/2009 academic year, begin courses in peace and conflict management, tourism, visual and economics and anthropologies as part of its expanding scope.
"We will also start a master’s programme in museum and heritage studies," he said.
He noted that, "there are so many aspects of material culture which are fading and there is therefore the need to document them in order not to loose them."
He expressed the hope that the museum would be completed by the 2008/2009 academic year to facilitate the introduction of the new programmes.
He said that musical instruments used by the early Ghanaian musicians and some indigenous music would be acquired for display at file.
Dr Gavua said music and dance form part of material culture. "Many people just observe what performers do but there is meaning to it," he said, adding that the museum would be explaining the meaning of all the dances.
He said that department will also organise a soccer exhibition as part of CAN 2008, saying "we are liaising with Abedi Pele and other key players for their boots and jerseys."
He urged other institutions to partner with the department in the establishment of the museum.
|
|
Bookmark with: