Profile
J.H. Kwabena Nketia (1921-2019) was a musicologist, composer, and educator based in Ghana. He is known as one of the pioneers and scholars in the field of African musicology. Nketia's field of interest was on the study, documentation, and preservation of traditional African music, particularly in Ghana. He conducted fieldwork and research, collecting and analyzing various forms of Ghanaian folk music, including drumming, dancing, and singing.Nketia's documentation, and preservation of traditional African music helped to establish African musicology as a respected academic discipline and brought international recognition to the musical traditions of Ghana and West Africa. He also composed works that blended traditional African elements with Western classical styles. Nketia's compositions, such as "Volta Fantasy" and "African Suite," have been performed worldwide and he authored several influential books and articles, including "The Music of Africa" and "Drumming in Akan Communities."
