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Background

Samuel Elikem Kwame Nyamuame is a visiting assistant professor in the departments of music and theatre. He received a PhD in ethnomusicology (world music) at the University of Florida, MA in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, BFA in dance and music) and Diploma in Music at the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon. His area of expertise is musical cultures of Africa and African Diaspora, African music (drumming) and dance traditions, especially that of Ghana.

Prior to coming to ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ, Nyamuame was an adjunct lecturer teaching ethnomusicology (world music), co-director of Agbedidi African Ensemble and associate director of the Pazeni Sauti Africa Choir at the University of Florida. He was affiliated faculty for the Center for African Studies and assisted in organizing outreach programs in the Alachua county public schools. Nyamuame also lectured at Wesleyan University and University of Ghana respectively, in the departments of music and dance and he has directed several ensembles.

Nyamuame taught African music and dance, facilitated workshops and choreographed dances for ensembles at many institutions including Howard University, Mt. Holyoke College, the Five College Consortium (of western Massachusetts), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Western Connecticut State University, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Brown University, Yale University, College of Central Florida, New World School of the Arts, University of Mississippi and University of Ghana, among others. He has also performed with several renowned artists including Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, Danny Glover and Brazil’s greatest pandeiro player, Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro.

Besides his performances, Nyamuame has presented scholarly works at regional, national and international conferences in ethnomusicology and African studies. He is an experienced master drummer, dancer, choreographer and a scholar who has taken a keen interest in researching the concept and foundation of traditional African, especially Ghanaian, musical performance practices.

Education

• PhD, University of Florida
• MA, Wesleyan University
• BFA, University of Ghana

Research Interests

• Ethnomusicology
• Musical Cultures of Africa
• Dance Traditions of Ghana
• African Dance
• Drumming