“Gateway to Africa” Arts and Cultural Immersion in Ghana

Spend 3 weeks exploring Ghana with an experienced guide and immersing yourself in the vibrant arts scene.

• Live at a family-run arts center with home-cooked meals provided for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Visit Cape Coast and connect with the history of the transatlantic slave trade at infamous Elmina Castle, walk the longest rainforest canopy bridge at Kakum National Park
• Take classes from Ghanaian arts professionals in drumming, singing, dance, gyil (a Ghanaian xylophone), kente weaving, batik fabric dying, calabash painting, shaker making, cooking, Twi language, and yoga
• Explore Accra with visits to West Africa’s largest arts and crafts market (the Art Center), the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and museum, the Ghana National Dance Theater, beaches, and more
• Enjoy the ancient city of Kumasi, including stops at the National Cultural Center, craft villages, and wildlife sanctuaries

This program will be led by Leatrice Whitney – an alumna of Performing Arts Abroad’s Ghana program – along with representatives from the Dagara Music Center in Medie, just outside Accra. Here is a message from Leatrice:

“African-Americans in the United States face an extremely challenging existence. Some of us have no real sense of our true identity. This is a result of a systemic effort in America to rob us of our traditional African practices causing a communal loss of our cultural identity. So even though in my case, coming from a culturally rich African American family, I still grew up wondering exactly where in Africa my ancestors came from. Over the summer, I took the Ancestry DNA test and upon receiving my results I was happy to learn that I am largely of Ghanaian ancestry. This knowledge afforded me a sense of solace and from there forward I vowed that one day I would visit my ancestral homeland, in Ghana.”

 Connect with Leatrice on Instagram here!

Sign up to receive more information using the form below:

Apply: To submit an application to this program, please go here.

Itinerary:

Cost:

Deadlines:

• March 30, 2020: Applications due
• April 15, 2020: Final payment due
• June 10, 2020: Flight information and signed liability forms due

Inclusions:

• Program activities
  • Neighborhood walking tour upon arrival
  • Arts classes include drumming, gyil, handicrafts such as kente weaving, batik fabric dying, calabash painting, and shaker making. Other classes possible subject to availability include Twi language classes, cooking class, and yoga.
  • Day trip into central Accra, including visits to Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, Arts Center, Labadi beach, National Theater, and more
  • Overnight excursion to Kumasi, including a trip to the Monkey Sanctuary
  • Overnight trip to Cape Coast, including visits to Elmina Castle, Kakum National Park, and more
  • Overnight visit to the Volta Region to explore Wli Waterfall, Keta beach, Tafi Monkey sanctuary, Xavi bird watching sanctuary, Volta lake, and Akosombo dam
  • Final presentation of work and farewell party with vendors and professional Saakumu Dance Troupe performance with community invited
•  Transportation
  • One private group airport transfer upon arrival and departure
  • Private van for all program excursions
• Accommodations
  • Shared occupancy housing in guesthouse and dormitory during time at Dagara Music Center
  • Shared occupancy housing in hotels for all excursions
•  Meals
  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included for all days spent at Dagara Music Center
  • Most meals included during excursions (some lunches will be on your own)
• Program Support and Administration
  • Pre-trip advising and preparation
  • Pre-departure guide
  • Pre-departure orientation meeting
  • PAA On-Site Program Coordinator (OPC) accompanying group on all scheduled program activities, available 24/7 throughout program
  • On-site orientation
  • Travel medical and accident insurance
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • Post-program support and arts career advising
  • Huge alumni network of performing artists