Prof. Aduonum holds the first-ever symposium on Dondology
- Kelvin Bildad Annor-Yeboah
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 27
In a bold and historic move to reclaim and formalise indigenous African knowledge systems, Aduonum Creative Projects, under the leadership of Nana Hemaa Professor Ama Oforiwaa Aduonum, High Priestess of Dondology, successfully held the first-ever Dondology Symposium on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Balme Library Conference Room, University of Ghana.
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In fact, the symposium had been a topic for students, teachers, and other stakeholders everywhere you go on campus.
A Tribute to Silenced Dreams
Describing the event as a tribute to her late father, Dr Kwasi Aduonum, and other Dondologists whose dreams were once shattered by neglect and ridicule, Prof. Aduonum revealed the personal pain and purpose behind the initiative.
“This was a tribute to my father, the late Dr Kwasi Aduonum, a Dondologist who was also shunned and mocked in the 1970s, and all the others who died with unfulfilled artistic dreams. Imagine how much creativity and life we would have if Dondologists were encouraged to live and thrive.”
Despite facing resistance and backlash from sections of the arts community, including an alleged boycott and lack of institutional support from the School of Performing Arts, Prof. Aduonum remained unwavering in her commitment.
“There was so much resistance, negativity… I almost gave up. But I’m glad I didn’t. I’m okay.”
Keynote: Reclaiming Education Through African Lenses
Delivering the keynote, Prof. George Sefa Dei, Director of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at the University of Toronto, called for a total reorientation of African education systems.
“We don’t have African universities; we have universities in Africa. You cannot decolonise with someone else’s lens.”
He emphasised the need to tap into ancestral wisdom and decried the privatisation of learning spaces that ignore indigenous worldviews.
The Culture Programme Officer at UNESCO, Mr Carl Ampah, echoed Prof. Dei’s remarks, who praised the initiative for aligning with UNESCO’s broader agenda to decolonise education and empower African societies to reclaim their narratives.
“This is a timely intervention that speaks directly to the heart of what education on the continent should become—an agent of cultural preservation and empowerment.”
Cultural Showcase: The Spirit of Dondology in Motion
The symposium was not just an academic event; it was a cultural experience. Performances included Ga storytelling and invocation, Ewe singing and econarratives, Adenkuma performance, A dondo praise welcome for Prof. Dei, Meraki Arts choreography on resistance, Kete drumming and dancing, and Ga Solemo drumming to welcome guests.
These performances embodied the essence of Dondology, a fusion of rhythm, narrative, resistance, and ancestral power.
Panel Insights and Academic Reflections
The event also featured a vibrant panel chaired by Dr Africanus Aveh. Speakers included Dr Nii Ayi Solomon, who presented on “Staging Change through Theatre for Development”, stressed community theatre’s transformative power.
Assistant lecturer, David E. A. Quaye, whose talk on “Past, Present, Future: The Resilience of Dance Education” traced Dondology’s roots to Prof. J. H. Kwabena Nketia.
“The word ‘Dondology’ comes from the dondo, the talking drum. It symbolises rhythm, communication, and ancestral connection.”
Bridging Spirituality and Science
Nana Yaw Wi Asamoah Boadi, PhD, offered a striking comparison between quantum physics and African ritual practices.
“When we chant or drum, we’re not just performing tradition—we’re creating a magnetic field. That energy transmits our intentions to our ancestors.”
He drew parallels between non-locality and African spirituality, asserting that ancestral messages are transmitted across time and space through rituals.
Recognising Voices and Dignitaries
The event was graced by notable personalities, including Numo Tsawe Otrome Kpone (Traditional Priest), Ms Akosua Hanson (Alliance Française), and Actor Adjetey Anang
Other contributing scholars included Dr Sylvanus Kwashie Kuwor, Dr Nana Amowee Dawson, and Dr Francis Gbormittah, as well as Awura-Ama Agyapong and Edem Korku Akpornorvi.
Funding and Support
Prof. Aduonum noted that she covered the entire cost of the event, despite reaching out to several cultural and governmental institutions, including UNESCO, Alliance Française, Ghana National Theatre, the National Commission on Culture, Bureau of Ghana Languages, and the Creative Arts Agency, none of which provided financial backing.
Key contributions came from Gladstone, a former student, who sourced beverages and water from Twellium, Mr Aggrey, Acting Balme Librarian, who absorbed cafeteria costs, Prof. Nii Sai and Dr Africanus Aveh, who provided moral and intellectual support; and Prof. George Sefa Dei, the keynote speaker, who waived his usual $5,000 fee in solidarity. Dr Francis Gbormittah offered unwavering moral support and personally covered the cost of the venue. Additionally, Ernest Nelson and Kwabena Dankwa, her IT personnel, played a vital role in creating and managing the event’s website, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure its digital success.
A New Chapter for African-Centred Scholarship
Prof. Aduonum ended the event with a spellbinding performance that fused storytelling, movement, and ancestral music, epitomising Dondology as both scholarship and lived expression.
“Dondology is not just art—it is spirit, economy, science, and ancestral knowledge. This is our life. This is our future.”
The Dondology Symposium stands as a watershed moment, not only for Prof. Aduonum’s legacy but for all who seek to reclaim African identity through education, performance, and resistance.
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Story by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah
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