Art Studies in Ghana: Whose Responsibility?

Abstract

While Ghana has centuries of tradition in producing some significant art, the literature on Ghanaian art suggests a preponderance of Euro-American writing about it, and on the contrary a paucity of Ghanaian scholars’ contribution to the country’s art studies. This paper examines some of the scholarship and Ghanaian participation in art discourse. It proposes some measures to change the trend by introducing art history departments focusing on degree programmes and graduate studies, and creating a local platform for indigenous voices and perspectives to cross-fertilize the knowledge in the discipline for the enrichment of the global discourse on Ghana’s art. Keywords: art studies, scholarship, African art, art history, faculty.