Set Design With Adinkra Symbols For Tv3‘S Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2014

Abstract

Seeking to project and promote the Ghanaian identity and culture through women, TV3, a private television in Ghana has since 2007 introduced its flagship programme Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB). A comprehensive deconstruction of the show reveals appreciable level of efforts put in by the producers to project and promote the Ghanaian culture in some aspects such as costume designs and dance performances. However, that commendable effort is quite negligible in the area of set design. Ghanaian elements appear loudly silent in the set designs for GMB. Owing to this shortcoming, this project used four selected Adinkra symbols OkƆdeɛ mmƆwerɛ (talons of eagle), Duafe (wooden comb), Dweninimmɛn (ram horn) and Mate Masie (what I hear, I keep) to design the set for the eighth season of GMB. The design concept culminated in a blend of the four symbols into a ―crown-like‖ set. The thesis-project utilized the artistic methodology. This methodology became handy and effective as it required the researcher to practically construct the design and not only to describe and document it. It became apparent that although Adinkra traces its origin to Asantes, its utilitarian relevance goes beyond the Asante culture. That notwithstanding, it was also strikingly obvious that perhaps artists have excessively utilized Adinkra symbols to the detriment of symbols from other ethnic and regional jurisdictions. The thesis-project concludes and recommends that scenic design students are encouraged to extensively research on and use in their designs more Ghanaian symbols which are gradually becoming extinct. This will help preserve and document these symbols for posterity.