Christian Kofi Mawuko
Mawuko, as he prefers to be called, is a native of Ghana, West Africa, where he began learning traditional rhythms of Ga, Ashanti, Dagati, Ewe, Dagomba, Fanti and Ga-abmbge drums at the age of 10. He possesses a natural talent for singing, dancing and playing various musical instruments. He has traveled extensively throughout the world as the lead dancer and master drummer with the Ghanaian performing company, Kyiem Troupe. In late 1980, he settled in London where he taught music and dance at local Schools, composed songs, and wrote plays for local theater groups. His musical composition was selected for production in the Pan African Historical Theater Festival and the first African Emancipation Day celebration held in Accra, Ghana. His work has been publicized in numerous television and movie productions in Accra, Ghana and London, England.
Since relocating to America in 1998, Mawuko performs around the USA, either solo, as percussion accompaniment for diverse musicians, or with his own world music band Ogya. Moving to Chattanooga Tennessee from Atlanta Georgia in 1999 provided the platform for Mawuko, to share African cultures and customs through Ghanaian traditional and African contemporary dance, song and percussion music, multi-Cultural arts and crafts, storytelling, theatrical production, and stage presentation. In addition to teaching, Mawuko also works extensively to promote the arts through associations with organizations around the southeast. Mawuko has appeared numerous times on television and in local newspapers throughout the southeast as a performing and teaching artist. Mawuko has been featured in magazines such as City Beat, ChattanoogaNow, and Pulse magazines in Chattanooga Tennessee and Enigma, Rolling Out and Creative Loafing magazines in Atlanta Ga in 2001, Mawuko was interviewed by WNET-TV 13 New York and featured in the paint by numbers episode of the EGG show, a PBS nationwide broadcast which aired in 2002 and re-aired in 2003 and 2004.
Sample Programs Offered
Program Type: Arts Integration, Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
The Pre-k-1st grad students and i will introduce our self with a rhythmic worm up by stumping,clapping and chanting, oyaa, oya, oya in a circle with a call and respond. I’ll start by mentioning my name, and then the students respond Oyaa, oya, oya. Each student takes a turn,till the last student, and then the whole rhythm will speed up to the end.
After the the introduction/worm up, the students will learn the African version of head, shoulder, waist, knees and toes, call Che-Che kule.
I’ll introduce them to my instruments from Ghana and Mali, West Africa, with their African and English names. The Gakokui (cow bell) is from the Ewe tribe of Ghana, Togo and Benin. Ahatse (shakers) Ewe, Ashanti, Fanti, Ga, tribes plays it. Kpanlogo (mei) drum from the GA, Fanti, and Adambge, tribes. Djembe from Mali. The students will learn a simple rhythms with all the instruments. This will help them lean how to keep a steady 4/4 beat. At the end of the residency the students will perform for the school and community.
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Curriculum, Arts Integration, Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
The 2nd,3rd and 4th grad students will learn a dance call Mia We Zor (means you’re welcome) Choreographed by Kofi Mawuko, and Gota a traditional dance from the Ewe people of Ghana.
Mia WE Zor dance show’s how we welcome a quest by offering water in a calabash. The students will learn three different languages (Mia We Zor, Ewe tribe, Ghana, Togo, Benin West Africa) (Akwaaba Ashanti tribe from Ghana, West Africa). (Kara Buni,Ki- Swahili from from Kenya and Rwanda East Africa.).
Gota (Means outside) is a social dance from the Ewe people of Ghana, and it’s performed from the youngest to the oldest, at many occasions like parties, naming ceremony, weddings etc. The students will learn to play the Gota rhythm, and also learn the names of the Ewe drums. gakokui ( cow bell) Atsime Vu (Master drum) Sogo, Kidi, Kanga vu, Totodji, and Ahatse (Shakers).
At the end of the residency, the students will perform for the School and the community. Some students will be drumming, playing gakokui ( cow bells) and Ahatse (shakers) and other students dancing. Me and the students always love to see the parents and the teacher participating on stage or standing up clapping and dancing with their children and students.
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
Program Type: Arts Curriculum, Arts Integration, Arts Appreciation
Program Description:
Kofi will narrate a story to 5th – 12th grad about every day life style of a fishing,farming and trading community village in Ghana, West African. The students will be taking notes about the story. At the end of the story i’ll ask some specific questions about story like, what country, Continent, community and type of activity of the life style. Students can ask questions about the story of the people, community and their life style.
Students will be divided into three groups to write the story, of one community each as a script. They’ll have 30 minute to finish writing. When time is up for writing. Each group will select one student to present their story by reading it to the whole class. Each group is going to enact their story, and learn a traditional drumming and dance from that community or tribe.
This activity will help the students to learn how to collaborate, critical thinking, communicate, listen, engage and self confidence. It connects to creative writing, social studies, Geography,history and math and literature . Each group will perform their piece for the school and community,at the end of the residency.
Program 3 Start Date:
02/13/2017
Lesson Plan Example: Download File
