A Tribute to Arts: Homage to a Dr. Cann and an Odei Ampofo

My school mates wonder why a science student like me would soon develop unbridled passion for the arts. And who said I didn't like the arts then? I just didn't want to be a part of a course that had been (it still has though) marginalized. Which government is ready to make the teaching and learning of arts-related subjects at all levels of education more attractive and effective? – Kwame Dadzie, via facebook

The quote above rekindled a long-held quagmire that I still battle with: how the study of the arts has been marginalised in our part of the world. I know many parents today will readily push their children to the sciences/ technical areas of study because of the hands on skills they will acquire when they graduate.

The debate about the importance of studying science related subjects in school as opposed to the arts has often been touted. Haven’t we even heard in recent times the call for universities to mount employable courses and do away with the Classics, Political Sciences, History, and the likes? A very lame excuse they often cite as being the cause of the high levels of unemployment in the country!

The following are some reasons why arts are still relevant:

• Studying Arts or Humanities help a student develop powers of analysis and expression.
• Though the study of arts may not make you directly employable, it prepares you for future jobs that require good communication skills, logical reasoning and analytical ability.
• Many employers prefer people from Humanities background because not only do they have the ability to work independently and analytically, but they are also experts in collecting information and writing clearly and coherently.
• The plethora of subjects that a student gets to study under Humanities stream is huge. Subjects like Geography, Philosophy, History, Sociology, and Political Science open a wide variety of career options.  (Credit: indiaeducation.net)

It is obvious that the greatest scientist, technologist or inventor is the one who is able to communicate his ideas to people in whatever form, just as the Greeks did. As a student of the arts, I believe having been in this field of study has given me a massive asset that I can readily be proud of. But this pride has not come about without a struggle: the stigma, the marginalisation. Unlike Kwame, I had wanted to be part of a course that was often marginalised in order to prove a point.

This is where I will salute two of my class mates from secondary school: Francis Cann and Joesph Amankwa Ampofo. With them in Tema Secondary School, we found ourselves in General Arts 3 class. I joined the class late after a brief sojourn with the science class. I was ‘compelled’ to pursue science against my wish. Reason? I had made a number of 1s ‘in chain’ at the basic level exams so they did not understand why I wanted to pursue arts. They wanted me to be a doctor; I wanted to study languages and be a communication expert. After some weeks in the science class I realised I did not belong there. I forced my way to an arts class. I remember declaring, even at that tender age: no arts, no school (this time not ‘vote’ -to wit Kwame Dadzie.)

My resilience paid off, of course without a caution: if you failed the first term, you are sacked! I took up the challenge. And I did not disgrace myself.

I joined the Arts class for the first time in some weeks. Surprisingly I was the only male student in the French class. I was told the other two male students (Amankwa Ampofo and Cann) were absent for that day. I subsequently met them, and I was glad we were all offering the same electives: English Language, Literature in English and French. I must say this was a combination most male arts students didn’t want to pursue. They combination was tagged ‘women electives.’

The stigma was rife. I knew the vision I had. I was determined to achieve it. Amankwa Ampofo had been a victim of circumstance: he wanted to pursue literature and English, but not French because he had no previous exposure in the French language. He wanted to Twi instead of French (as an elective), but that combination was not available. Cann, I guess would have loved to replace French, but with what? French was a major headache for most students in Temasco at the time. Any way the details may be told some day by someone else. But we soldiered on in spite of the scorn. I remember Amankwa often ridiculed as being too ‘raw’ because he was too adept at Akwapim Twi. He even acquired the alias ‘Twi Elective’. 

In all this, perseverance and focus paid off. Amankwa stood strong; Cann was resilient in spite of his friends (who were all pursuing Maths, Geography and Economics).Today, what ‘women electives’ has moulded us into cannot be gainsaid. I am proud of my colleagues and myself. I have been able to achieve what I set my eyes on: pursuing my languages and studying communications.  

For Amankwa Ampofo anybody who was in Temasco with us from 1994 will not be surprised at his feat as a broadcaster. He brought something unique to the sphere of Akan radio, with his exploits from Radio Gold to Asempa/Adom Fms.

For Francis Cann (Dr. Cann as he is known on Radio), I am most proud of. His understanding of his career goals from those days has turned him today as arguably a sought-after broadcaster in the capital, and the finest entertainment presenter in the city. Anchoring Showbiz Xtra on Happy FM on Saturdays always brings back fond memories of those days. His passion for the arts, especially literature is forever evident in his presentation: the use of adages and proverbs has been his mark, and his level of appreciation/critique is adorable.

It is indeed true that a child that aspires to own a car in future begins inquiring about its cost even as an infant. That’s Dr. Cann’s favourite proverb on radio. And I guess you understand why.