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The West African
sub-region of the Pan African Society for Musical Arts Education
(PASMAE) held its maiden regional conference at the University of
Education, Winneba, Ghana from December 7 to 9. The conference also
doubled as a meeting of stakeholders which led to the formation of
PASMAE West Africa.

Musical arts
teachers from various educational institutions across West Africa,
music students and enthusiasts participated in the conference themed
‘Musical Arts Education and Indigenous Knowledge Systems’.
Representatives of the association from East and Southern Africa,
representatives of UNESCO were also in attendance.

Vice President,
PASMAE West Africa, Josephine Mokwunyei of the University of Benin,
convened the meeting. It featured paper presentations and workshops on
musical arts namely; music, dance, theatre, visual arts, costume and
media, and also musical and theatrical performances on various
sub-themes.

Director General of
the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), Tunde
Babawale, chaired the opening ceremony. He spoke on the need to
maintain African indigenous knowledge systems including its arts and
culture.

Some notable
African musicologists and scholars were recognised for their
contributions to the musical arts and culture in West Africa and the
world at the conference. Chief was foremost ethnomusicologist, founder
and director of the International Centre for African Music Development
at the University of Ghana, J.H. Kwabena Nketia, an emeritus professor.

Others included
Africa’s first female professor of Musicology, Mosunmola
Omibiyi-Obidike, Meki Nzewi of the Centre for Indigenous Instrumental
Music and Dance of Africa at the University of Pretoria, South Africa
and Babawale.

James Flolu, one of
the founders of PASMAE, Charles B. Wilson, veteran music teacher and
Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, Vice Chancellor of the University of Education,
Winneba, were also honoured.

The conference
which was supported and co-sponsored by CBAAC, witnessed the election
of Josephine Mokwunyei as chair, West Africa PASMAE.

Mary Danzi emerged
as the vice, Mereku Cosmos as secretary, Ifeoluwa Olorunsogo as finance
officer and Austin Emielu as operations officer. The next general
assembly is slated for 2012 and will hold in Nigeria.