The School of Performing Arts hosted the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR), the world’s biggest theatre research body’s premier conference in West Africa. The conference spanned over a period of one week and was under the theme “The Stories We Tell: Myths, Mythmaking, and Performance.”
The Conference, which took place on the University of Ghana, Legon campus, brought together Theatre scholars and practitioners from about 44 countries across the world.
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah-Amfo, in her address at the opening ceremony, welcomed delegates of the conference to the University of Ghana. She expressed her excitement to have the School of Performing Arts host the IFTR conference, as part of the 75th anniversary of the University, highlighting the importance of the Performing Arts in the preservation and communication of our culture and national heritage.
Prof. Appiah-Amfo noted that the theme of the University’s 75th anniversary celebration, aligned with the conference theme. She said, “It is a reality that myths are projected in the stories we tell. They mirror all facets of humanity and contribute to discussions on culture, as a worthy exercise for scholarly minds.”
She expressed pride in the School and urged the School to leverage this opportunity for further collaboration and fruitful dialogue, leading to increased productivity in the creation and dissemination of knowledge in the Performing Arts.
As a gift for winning the bid to host the IFTR conference, the Vice-Chancellor made a promise to prioritise the completion of the School’s multi-purpose building in the next academic year.
In his address, Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities, highlighted the place of the Performing Arts in national and international development. He urged the School and practitioners in attendance to contribute towards the development discourse, by effecting and affecting the development agenda in the country.
Prof. Ofori suggested that artists make use of their voice, by not only letting their voice be heard, but also be ‘felt’.
Prof. Awo Mana Asiedu and Dr. Ekua Ekumah, co-convenors of the IFTR conference recounted their experience with the IFTR, and their excitement that the first West African conference was taking place in Ghana, at the University of Ghana, Legon campus on the memorable celebration of the 75th anniversary of the premier university of Ghana.
They encouraged participants to allow themselves to experience Ghana, by allowing some ‘wiggle room’.
As part of the opening ceremony, which was held at the Great Hall, University of Ghana, there was an artists' roundtable discussion, which was moderated by Prof. Esi Sutherland Addy. Chief Moomen a playwright, Shirley Frimpong Manso a film maker, Nii Tete Yartey a Choreographer, Diana Hopson a gospel musician, and Bernard Akoi-Jackson a performance and fine artist were the panellists.
As part of the conference's social and cultural programme, participants were treated to traditional Ghanaian dances and Adenkum workshops during lunchtime. Theatre performances, such as, Mohammed Ben Abdallah’s Song of the Pharaoh, Nyana Basa by Kobina Hagan a Graduate Student in the Department of Theatre Arts, a Roverman Productions’ play; The Secret Code of Wives, were staged in the evenings.
The baton was officially handed over to the team from The Philippines during the closing ceremony. The 2024 conference will be held in Manila, under the theme, “Our states of emergency: Theatre and performances of tragedy.”
Hosting the 2023 edition of the IFTR conference, served as an opportunity for Ghana to showcase its culture and heritage, while contributing to the scholarly discourse in the field of performance, particularly, theatre research, with hopes of fruitful and long-lasting collaborations.
The conference received a generous grant from Stanbic Bank and BANGA Africa. Others, who also supported the conference include the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana, the Goethe Institute, Verna Mineral Water and Woodin.
