RETIREMENT? WHEW!
HARNESSING “ARTITUDES” FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
It has seriously been a wild ride over the past few months and hope everyone is doing well and in good spirits. Artlife Matters has had its setbacks in these difficult times, still, it has also shown that our area of intervention- “Artitude”, is one of the essential remedies that would not only assist in surviving this pandemic but would lead to sustainable growth (SDG-9) now and post-COVID-19.
Art is a way of life; as Artitude epitomises freedom of self-belief and grassroots expression of the African connect. As leaders of the pack, it is essential that we know our history, believe in ourselves, and above all, own our narratives. This uniqueness has created opportunities for local creatives from Ghana and all over Africa to plug into social dialogues, and cultural projects like “black is king”. We are obtaining an international interest in the potential of the art and cultural industries to drive sustainable development and create inclusive job opportunities. However, we should not lose focus on the fact that the industry also produces “inherent” values and objects: it entertains, delight, challenges, gives meaning, interprets, raises awareness, and stimulates.
r
“THE SWIMMING YEARS” – A SON’S LOVING TRIBUTE TO HIS FATHER!
My earliest recollection of an encounter with water en masse was from my Dad’s (Beattie) constant teasing about how scared I was of the sea. He had taken us to the beach and introduced me to the water at age 1 and I had balled my eyes out. He had proof of the encounter on an old audio reel to reel tape and it was very embarrassing for me to hear myself wailing so pathetically. But two things were clear to me, first, that ‘kid’ was crying more from respect for the power of nature and secondly, the situation would have to be changed soon in the future. Beattie was a very sensitive man and though he expected good performance from his five boys he did not over push them. He allowed personal evolution. Beattie was a beach lover and when we lived at Chorkor I remember us going swimming at sundown after he returned from work in the evenings. He loved photography and as an all-round hobbyist, would develop his own prints at home in a dark room, and one of the photos that survives to this day is that of my younger brother
THE STORY OF THE OAA TULLOW SCIENCE BLOCK PROJECT
In 2017 Achimota School turned 90. Early in 2016, the OAA Executive Committee began to consider what it could do to support the celebration of this significant milestone. The Committee thought it would be good to give the School a useful legacy project in addition to a great set of programmes to celebrate the milestone. We asked the Headmistress at the time, Mrs Beatrice Adom, what she saw as the most pressing need of the School, for which she would need assistance from the OAA. Her response was that they needed a new Science Block. We were not quite sure if she was serious or not! We suggested to her that we could rehabilitate the old Science Block, but she remained adamant; the School needed a new Science Block in view of a large number of science students. That is how this project began. This short piece is intended to document the effort made by different people to bring
the project to life.
OAA TULLOW SCIENCE BLOCK
Work on the OAA-Tullow Science Block is proceeding steadily and the contractor plans to hand over the building to us on W24th February 2020. Akora Ian Quartey, our Project Consultant, visited the site and shared with me the pictures below. The supplier of science equipment has also begun work in Kumasi. He expects to finish on time. We have ordered 4 SmartBoards to be installed in the 4 labs and will begin the training of teachers after the holidays. We will soon place the order for various chemicals and other consumables for use in the labs. In sum, we are ‘good to go’. As soon as we receive the various amounts pledged by individuals and year groups we will suspend fundraising. On the land front, we are working with the School Board to put in place structures for managing the lands. We are also supporting the School to pursue all the known litigation cases in court. There are no new ones.
THE STORY OF AKORA KOFI ANTUBAM
Akora Kofi Antubam: A luminary Achimotan who has spread our fame far and wide. He is shown speakng with President L.S. Senghor of Senegal, during a visit to the school. Antubam was Art Master at that time and he later created the Ghana Regalia, wooden reliefs on the facade of the parliament building in Accra, and murals on the United Nations building in Geneva.
Antubam (1922–64) spent nine years at Achimota School, where he completed an upper primary course, a teacher training course, and a three-year specialization in art and crafts.
In 1951, Antubam returned to Achimota as the new Arts and Crafts Master. While a student at Achimota, Antubam began painting cultural scenes on the school’s walls. Many murals and paintings followed and most of them were romanticized scenes of everyday (village) life, or royal depictions of chiefs with their linguists
R.G. CASEY AND LORD SWINTON, RESIDENT MINISTER IN WEST AFRICA (BRITISH GOLD COAST), AT ACHIMOTA COLLEGE
The picture shows R.G. Casey (at right) and Lord Swinton, resident minister in West Africa (British Gold Coast), at Achimota College – when R.G.C. passed through by air from USA to Cairo in January 1943.
In a book by Andrew Stewart, entitled, Empire Lost Britain, the Dominions and the Second World War , this excerpt from page 108, illustrates how the American Airmen, billeted at Achimota, helped to influence the native Africans of the Gold Coast, towards an abhorrence for Colonial rule;
“Lord Swinton, the Resident Minister in West Africa, reported back to London that he was having considerable problems in the Gold Coast with the Americans. The Headmaster of the National School in Accra wrote to the Governor-General to complain about ‘the most reprehensible conduct and hooliganism’ being displayed by many of the visitors.
COLONIAL GOLD COAST POLICE FORCE
A fact very few may be aware of is that a contingent of the Colonial Gold Coast Police foce was trained at Achimota. During the second World War, H.Q. Military Forces West Africa was formed on the 7 July 1940 with the arrival of Lieutenant General George Giffard and one staff officer.
The headquarters were established on the 15 July, at Fraser House – Achimota College, where Lord Swinton was the colonial Cabinet Minister Resident. So both the Ghana police and military have formative ties to Achimota. The Police training depot for other ranks was established in 1930 and that for officers was moved to a new one in 1959.This picture is from Achimota.
EDUCATION IS THE KEYSTONE OF PROGRESS - SIR GORDON GUGGISBERG
Education is the Keystone of Progress, mix the materials badly, omit the most important, and the arch will collapse ; omit character-training from education and progress will stop. BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIR GORDON GUGGISBERG, K.C.M.G., D.S.O., late R.E. 1924.
The Book of Education of the Gold Coast has yet to be written ; this is a mere booklet describing the present situation with regard to education and attempting to paint the picture of the future.
My only excuse for writing it is that some of my African friends have asked me to do so ; they say — with justice — that I have spoken much on the subject in public, but that the spoken word does not reach the many literate Africans who are scattered through the ” far, far bush ” of a country that is greater in area than England, Scotland and Wales.
THE CLASS OF 1973 YEAR GROUP STORY
In Sept 68 when the Class of 1973 entered Achimota School, we met the then Fifth Formers – the famous Class of 1969! This was a class full of handsome men and beautiful, strong women. They were real guys and babes and we looked up to them! I remember the night of their Leavers Form Party in June 1969. Mini dresses, psychedelic patterns, low heel slingback shoes, and oversized wrist watches in all colors of the rainbow were all the rage! I remember us Ninoes standing on the Landing in Kingsley House as the Seniors excitedly prepared to leave for the event with Akoras Henrietta Heman-Mensah, Nana Afriyie Agyeman and other Sixth Formers. The Class of 1969 ladies that I remember seeing that night were Akoras Janet Daniels, Jennifer Brown-Aryee and Beverly Majors!
AN EXCERPT FROM A GRIPPING NARRATION OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG'S (SATCHMO'S) 1956 VISIT TO ACHIMOTA
An excerpt from a gripping narration of Louis Armstrong’s (Satchmo’s) 1956 visit to Achimota, with a moving epilogue; of his wife’s spontaneous dance and his own epiphany; a true tale of Sankofa:
Upon arriving at Achimota College for the traditional drumming and dancing exhibition, the Armstrong party was welcomed by Phillip Gbeho and Beattie Casely-Hayford, the secretary of the Arts Council. These two somehow had been able to bring together Chiefs and representatives from all regions of Ghana and work out a seating plan that seemed to satisfy everyone. The Armstrong group was led to its place beneath a large umbrella.
