معرفی
Nani Agbeli is a Lecturer in Music and Director of the West African Music Ensemble at Pomona College, where he has been teaching since 2016. He specializes in traditional Ghanaian music, dance, and song, with a focus on Anlo-Ewe drum languages and performance practices. He is also deeply involved in interdisciplinary arts, integrating music with textile arts, graphic design, and new media.
His research and teaching interests include:
- West African Music and Dance
- Traditional Ghanaian Drumming and Language Systems
- Choreography and Performance Direction
- Interdisciplinary and Multi-Arts Initiatives
- Community-Based Cultural Education
While no recent publications are listed, his work emphasizes experiential learning, cultural preservation, and creative fusion of traditional and contemporary artistic forms.
He has held significant academic and artistic leadership roles, including:
- Director of the MFA West African Music and Dance Program at CalArts
- Artistic Director and Founder of Volta Drum Dance (Valencia, CA)
- Founder and Writer of Adinkra, a Ghanaian traditional fusion band
- Head Teacher at the Dagbe Center, Kopeyia, Ghana
Agbeli has conducted performances and seminars at institutions across North America and the Caribbean, including the New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, Harvard University, Boston University, and Edna Manley College in Jamaica.
He grew up in a prominent family of Ghanaian performers; his father founded the Dagbe Center, and his brothers continue to teach there. His work aims to unify West African music and dance with broader creative and educational initiatives.
