A Concert of African Pianism

AFRICAN PIANISM CONCERT!!!

The second concert of African Pianism by Victor Nii Sowa Manieson, a contemporary Ghanaian pianist of international repute comes off on Saturday October 11, 2008 at the British Council.

Victor Nii Sowa Manieson: an Educationist, Composer and Performer is a contemporary Ghanaian Musical genius who distinguishes himself through African Pianism. African Pianism is a ground-breaking type of African music which derives its characteristics from a blend of African drums and African instruments, percussions and idioms interpreted on Piano. In other words, “he drums on the piano.”

He has performed before a number of distinguished personalities such as Emeritus Professor Kwabena Nketia, Professor Ebenezer Laing, Ambassador Nancy Powell (Former US Ambassador to Ghana), UN officials among others.

With a Masters degree in Ethnomusicology,Victor has taught music at a number of institutions such as the National Academy of Music and the Lincoln Community School. He is the Co-founder of the Accra Music Ministry Chorale and was for many years Director of Music at the Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, U.S.A, where he performed his compositions regularly to a five hundred plus audience.

On July 11, he shall perform the following:

- Voices of our Ancestors: This piece reveals the non-oral communication that existed in the midst of the pandemonium that characterized how our ancestors were transported to Europe and South America. As the song unfolds, we shall come to the realization that in spite of their different backgrounds there was indeed a form of communication initiated by God and presented through collective consciousness as they transcend their bodies.
Voices of our ancestors shall be enacted by the Dance Factory.

- Supplication from Yoruba land: Tries to address the vocabulary we use in referring to the supreme being-God Almighty. By so doing it raises questions of how we should address God. Should we address God as male or female (“Obaatampa Nyame” by the Akans) or both (as is in the case of the Ga expression, “Ataa naa nyumo”) The piece also demonstrates the manifestation of God through creation.
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- Lamentations from Freetown: is a bold attempt to caution all West African Countries. History teaches us that it is our gallant ancestors who fought against being transported to Europe that were relocated to Freetown to co-exist with indigenous tribes, notably the Mende. Consequently, Freetown became the melting pot of all major tribes in West Africa as reflected in the “Krio” language. The crux of the Lamentations from Freetown is that if such brave ancestors who could co-exist for more than two hundred years could be “blinded” to go into war for over ten years, then we should be cautious not to inflame passions that would destroy any attempts at integrating the sub-region.

- Senorita: is the emergence of the sophisticated Latin American Woman, reflecting what she would have been three generations ago. Senorita shall be enacted.

For more information on the concert contact:
Kwesi Amoak (Marketing and coordinating Manager, The Piano Lab)
Tel: 0277 68 13 73 Email: kwesiamoak@gmail.com