For two weeks in March, the Webster University Ghana campus hosted students of the
School of Communications on a two-week international storytelling tour. The group
was led by associate professor Lawrence Baden from the main campus. View more photos
of the tour at the Webster Ghana Facebook page.
Exploring Historic, Exotic Locales
They visited other important historical sites in Ghana, such as Elmina Castle in the central region.
This particular visit was in collaboration with students and faculty of Kent State University (who are a part of the Webster International Network of Schools), also taking part in a similar international storytelling program in the country.
The visit to Elmina Castle, the largest and oldest fort in the world, gave the group a better understanding of the history surrounding the arrival of Europeans in Africa and the transatlantic slave trade. The castle is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
While in the central region of Ghana, both groups visited Kakum National Park, a dense tropical rain forest, where students were able to take a very scenic canopy walk.
Media Practices in Ghana
Webster students also gained an opportunity to have hands on experience of various media practices in Ghana through a tour of some of the major media outlets in the country. One major highlight of the media visit was the privilege of interviewing the legendary A.B. Crentsil, a famous Ghanaian vocalist.
By the end of the program, both groups had collected enough content to write about an array of topics including, impact of religion on society, Ghanaian perceptions on same sex relationship, challenges women face as artists, balancing western influence with local traditions. Other topics explored included how art is used for charitable exercises, especially in supporting education and how older artists mentor younger ones as well as art in the media.