Prof. Nketia shares his ideas on the significance of an international centre for African music and dance.

J. H. KWABENA NKETIA was born on June 22, 1921 at Mampong Ashanti where he received his primary and middle school education. He attended the Presbyterian Training College at Akropong from 1937 to 1941 and was appointed to the staff of the College on completing his teacher and catechist training. He continued his education at the University of London from 1944 to 49, beginning with two years of study in linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, and three years at Birkbeck College and Trinity College of Music.
He did further studies in the US at the Julliard School of Music, Columbia University and Northwestern University. He joined the staff of the University of Ghana in 1952 and is currently Emeritus Professor and Director of the International Centre for African Music and Dance. He is also Emeritus Professor at UCLA (University of California at Los Angles) and Andrew Mellon Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh. He has more than 200 publications to his credit.

In Ghana Nketia is not only known as a scholar but also as a musician and composer. He has composed several choral pieces, including Monkamfo No and Monna Nase, several solo songs with piano accompaniment such as Yaanom Montie, Onipa Bƒyƒƒ Bi and Wonya amane a, na wohu wo døfo, and also several instrumental works, including piano pieces, works for flute and piano, flute, oboe and piano, violin and piano, cello and piano and atenteben.
His awards include the Grand Medal (Civil Division ),ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his book on the Music of Africa which has been translated into German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese), IMC-UNESCO Prize for Distinguished Service to Music, and the Prince Claus 1997 Award "for his outstanding contribution to the dissemination and advancement of knowledge about African music and the
cross fertilization of traditional and contemporary musical forms and techniques."
The year 2000 Distinguished Africanist Award of the African Studies
Association of the US for life long contribution to African Studies.

In Ghana Nketia is not only known as a scholar but also as a musician and composer. He has composed several choral pieces, including Monkamfo No and Monna Nase, several solo songs with piano accompaniment such as Yaanom Montie, Onipa Bƒyƒƒ Bi and Wonya amane a, na wohu wo døfo, and also several instrumental works, including piano pieces, works for flute and piano, flute, oboe and piano, violin and piano, cello and piano and atenteben.
His awards include
The Grand Medal (Civil Division )
ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his book on the Music of Africa
which has been translated into German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese)
IMC-UNESCO Prize for Distinguished Service to Music, and
The Prince Claus 1997 Award
"for his outstanding contribution to the dissemination
and advancement of knowledge about African music and the
cross fertilization of traditional and contemporary musical forms and techniques."
The year 2000 Distinguished Africanist Award of the African Studies
Association of the US for life long contribution to African Studies.