Sowah Mensah

Sowah Mensah is an ethnomusicologist, composer, and Master Drummer from Ghana, West Africa. He serves as Professor of Music at Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, directing their African Music Ensembles. Additionally, he holds the James Marsh Professor-at-Large position at the University of Vermont and directs ensembles at the University of Minnesota, while leading Sankofa (a Ghanaian Folklore and Dance Ensemble) and performing with the quartet Speaking in Tongues.

His research centers on Ethnomusicology with emphasis on Ghanaian musical traditions and cross-cultural composition, creating works that integrate African drumming with Western ensembles like symphonic bands, choirs, and orchestras. Notable compositions include "Nyamo" for Band and African Ensemble, "Asomdwee" for SATB choir, and "Agoo" for Orchestra, demonstrating innovative fusion of musical traditions.

Mensah directs African Music Ensembles across four institutions and leads Sankofa. As a core member of Speaking in Tongues, he performs with two percussionists, a bassist, and a Chinese pipa player, creating boundary-crossing collaborative works.