Music, stories and dance are cultural staples that create a unique way of life, and make up societal structures, according to Barry Bilderback’s presentation Tuesday.
Bilderback, assistant professor in the Lionel Hampton School of Music, gave the second presentation in the “Turning of the Wheel: a Humanities Exploration” series, titled “The Unique vs. The Universal.” The presentation covered the organization of traditional music and dance in Ghanaian culture at the Prichard Art Gallery.
Bilderback first traveled to Ghana as a professor at Linfield College in Oregon to explore his interest in music.
“While I was there though, I realized it was much more than music,” Bilderback said. “It’s a whole way of life and tradition.”
Bilderback’s presentation included footage of the student groups he traveled with participating in traditional Ghanaian song and dance. One group was even asked to perform for National Ghanaian Television.
“This is living proof some of us were in Ghana,” Bilderback said.
The World Beat music group assisted Bilderback in his presentation, performing a traditional Ghanaian drum song and dance to demonstrate the structure and layered style of Ghanaian music.
Bilderback and the group taught the audience a traditional “circle dance” which included chanting, clapping and teamwork as the audience joined hands to move around the room.
Bilderback traveled to Ghana three times with students since bringing his international studies course, “Africa’s Calling: Culture in Ghana,” to the University of Idaho. He hopes to return this summer with another group of students.
“If it happens, it’ll be the fifth consecutive summer,” Bilderback said. “My hope is that we will be able to do this every summer.”
Rodney Frey, this year’s distinguished humanities professor in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, chose the theme for the “Turning of the Wheel” series.
“I chose to focus on the relationship between the unique and the universal in our lives and how that affects our capacities for communication, collaboration, and creativity,” Frey said.
The “distinguished humanities professor” title is bestowed by CLASS to recognize the importance of and increase awareness and appreciation for humanities in the university.
Frey said he was incredibly pleased with the turnout and Bilderback’s presentation.
“You just never know what to expect,” Frey said. “Sometimes six people will show up, and other times 90. It all just depends. I thought it was an excellent presentation of Ghanaian culture.”
“Turning of the Wheel” presentations will continue throughout the remainder of the school year.