Engaging Africa: Ethnographic Study in Ghana

*THIS PROGRAM IS NOT RUNNING IN WINTER 2013. IT WILL NEXT RUN IN JANUARY 2014*

Sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies at Binghamton, this program is suitable for all majors. The 6-credit program will provide students with a unique opportunity to study aspects of Ghanaian culture both in a classroom setting and in the field, in order to develop an individual ethnographic research project that addresses a relevant topic in their field of study. Possible subjects include music and dance, theatre, cultural anthropology, sociology, education, business, health and environmental sciences, comparative literature, cinema, linguistics and Africana studies.

Location

Ghana is known throughout the world as the "jewel" of West Africa. Featuring a beautiful coastline and people with a reputation for friendliness and kindness, Ghana gives students the opportunity to learn about Africa in a safe and comfortable setting. In 1957 Ghana was the first nation in Africa to achieve independence, and it has always been at the forefront of the African unity movement.

Passing the historic 50-year anniversary of its independence, Ghana boasts a stable, democratically elected government that successfully promotes development while maintaining a sense of pride in Ghana's culture and history. Ghana has many important cultural cites, including royal palaces, slave castles, sacred lakes, and gorgeous natural forests.

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a vibrant city that showcases Ghana's development and respect of tradition. Its supermarkets and restaurants feature most of the world's regional cuisines, as well as local specialties. As the homeland of the Ga ethnic group, Accra also has traditional festivals throughout the year, turning the city into a huge celebration. Accra is home to the University of Ghana, located in the suburb of Legon. The University has renowned departments of African Studies and Performing Arts, and is the home of the Ghana Dance Ensemble, and Abibigromma, the national theatre company. Balme Library contains many important and rare manuscripts that cover most of Africa's history, languages, arts, and culture. The University is a self-contained neighborhood, with a market, hospital, pizza parlor, nightclubs, and internet cafés.

Calendar

There will be four online course modules beginning in late-March, through early May. The group will leave for Ghana in late July and return to the U.S. in mid-August. There will be a follow-up meeting after the return from Ghana to present research projects.