UW Ethnomusicology Archives video recordings: Visiting Artists Concert: Ko Nimo and Ray Holman, 1999-04-27

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sercombe, Laurel; University of Washington Ethnomusicology Archives
Title
UW Ethnomusicology Archives video recordings: Visiting Artists Concert: Ko Nimo and Ray Holman
Dates
1999-04-27
Quantity
1 videotapes  :  1 vct (S-VHS, stereo, color); Duration: 1:53:09; newspaper article about Ko Nimo; also see concert planning folder.
Collection Number
1999003
Summary
Video recording of UW Visiting Artists Concert with Ko Nimo and Ray Holman, 4/27/99, 8:00 p.m., Meany Theater; concert presented by UW Ethnomusicology Division.
Repository
University of Washington Ethnomusicology Archives
University of Washington
Ethnomusicology Archives
Box 353450
Seattle, WA
98195-3450
Telephone: 2065430974
ethnoarc@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Access is restricted.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Daniel "Koo Nimo" Amponsah, is an Asante "living legend" who performs the old and the new traditions of Ghana. His music brings to life the meaning of the Sankofa image, a symbolic bird of Asante, looking backwards with one foot forward to the future. Koo Nimo's musical background began at age nineteen when he was teaching drumming, guitar and brass band music in his village of Foase. Trained in chemistry, he worked at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi as chief laboratory technician until his retirement in 1998. During this time he was an active musician and public figure, and was also the first Ghanaian to produce a compact disc of his music, Osabarima. In 1957, the year of Ghana's independence, he formed "Adadam Agofomma" (Going Back to Roots) ensemble. He was the president of the Musicians Union for 10 years and became a recipient of the Grand Medal for Lifetime Service to Ghana from the Head of State. Koo Nimo has been a source of inspiration for many musicians through the force of his character and his creative blend of Ghanaian musical forms, Spanish guitar style, and jazz chord progressions. He has performed internationally, at Lincoln Center in New York, Australia, U.S. and Britain. He can also be seen in several documentaries: "Crossing Over", "Repercussions" and the latest, "Dr. Gates's Travels through Africa".

- University of Washington School of Music Adowa Music and Dance flyer, May 22, 2000

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Title (from concert program): Visiting Artists in Ethnomusicology -- From Ghana: Palmwine guitar music and Ashanti drumming - Ko Nimo and guest artists John Amponsah [and] Kofi Anang; and From Trinidad: Steelband music - Ray Holman and guest artists Jeff Busch [and] Tom Miller.

Recorded by Laurel Sercombe (for Ethnomusicology Archives) with Panasonic AG-1960 S-VHS deck (video signal from Sony CCD-TR910 Hi8 camcorder; audio feed a mix from sound board and hung microphone).

Note: Koo Nimo asked us to spell his name "Ko Nimo" the first year of his residency to aid with pronunciation but thereafter returned to the traditional spelling.

Related collection - W1 World/1999002 (audio recording on DAT of same concert)

Documentation: 4 concert programs

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Description Dates
1999003-0001
1 videotape : VCT
Contents: (1st half of concert) Palmwine guitar music and Ashanti drumming by Ko Nimo with guests John Amponsah/prempensua and donno and Kofi Anang/apentemma, vocals, Adowa and Kete dance; and students Carla Becker/dawuro, prempensua, ntorowa; Rob Carroll/guitar, dawuro, nnawuta, vocals; Greg Campbell/dawuro, petia, drumset; Sheila Feay-Shaw/ntorowa; Valerie Price/petia, apentemma, nnawuta, dawuro, vocals; Chris Stromquist/donno; announcements by Ter Ellingson and Cynthia Schmidt.(2nd half of concert) Steelband music by Ray Holman with guest artists Jeff Busch and Tom Miller/drums; and students Stanley Alleyne, Karey Eals, Hillary Funk, Eiko Nagahama, Bill Nordwell, Mike Roling, Calissia Havard, Mark Oesterle, Brian Benski, Matt Drumm, Miho Takekawa, David White, Emmy Ulmer, Chris Davidson, Michael Glynn, Mike McGee, Anthony Nicholas, and Dr. Shannon Dudley; announcements by Dr. Dudley.See logsheets for complete contents listing and durations.
1999-04-27

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Ashanti Music
  • Dance--Ghana
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Palm Wine Music
  • Popular Music--Africa
  • Popular Music--Latin America
  • Steel bands (Music)
  • Video recordings in ethnomusicology

Geographical Names

  • Ghana
  • Seattle (Wash.)
  • Trinidad
  • World

Form or Genre Terms

  • Video recordings

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Amponsah, Daniel, 1934- (performer)
    • Amponsah, John (performer)
    • Anang, Kofi (performer)
    • Busch, Jeff (performer)
    • Holman, Ray, 1944- (performer)
    • Miller, Tom (performer)