Of the Akan people: Colour and design education in Ghana | Intellect Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. International Journal of Education Through Art
  4. Volume 16, Issue 3
  5. Article
Volume 16, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 1743-5234
  • E-ISSN: 2040-090X

Abstract

This article digests some of the general ideas that constitute the concept of colour among the Akan people of Ghana and how their proper understanding and desirable consideration will enhance effective visual communication in the Ghanaian visual arts curriculum. The investigation, which involved a number of conversations with knowledgeable personalities in the teaching and speaking of the Akan language, sought to bring out the perceptions, beliefs and functions of colour among the people. The outcome of the study pointed to how colour resides deeply within the traditional lives of the Akan people, not only as aesthetical experience but also as an ‘object’ of cultural and spiritual signification. The study therefore recommends a proper understanding of and conscious respect to the perceptions and meanings of colour among contemporary Akan designers and design educators to improve the design experience of teachers, learners and practitioners.

Dieser Artikel stellt die grundlegenden Vorstellungen, die das Konzept der Farbe bei dem Akan-Volk von Ghana konstituieren und wie es sinnvoll verstanden werden kann, dar. Auf dieser Basis entfaltet er, wie durch die (erwünschte) Berücksichtigung dieses Bereichs im ghanaischen Kunstlehrplan dieser im Hinblick auf das Thema Visuelle Kommunikation verbessert werden kann. Die Untersuchung, die eine Reihe von Gesprächen mit Experten für Unterricht in der Akan-Sprache beinhaltete, versucht, die Wahrnehmungen dieser Experten, deren Überzeugungen und Vorstellungen bezüglich der Funktionen von Farbe zur Sprache zu bringen. Das Ergebnis der Studie zeigt, wie Farbe tief im traditionellen Leben des Akan-Volkes verankert ist, nicht nur als ästhetische Erfahrung, sondern auch als ‘Objekt’ kultureller und spiritueller Bedeutung. Als Schlussfolgerung empfiehlt die Untersuchung ein angemessenes Verständnis und einen bewussten Umgang mit den Wahrnehmungen und Bedeutungen von Farben unter zeitgenössischen Akan-Designern und Design-Lehrenden, um die Design-Erfahrung von Lehrern, Lernenden und Praktikern zu verbessern.

© 2020 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/eta_00041_1
2020-09-01
2024-04-26
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Ambrose, Gavin, and Harris, Paul. ( 2008), The Production Manual: A Graphic Design Handbook, New York:: AVA Publishing;.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Anne-Marie, Willis. ( 2006;), ‘ Ontological designing. ’, Design Philosophy Papers, 4:2, pp. 69–92.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Antoubam, Kofi. ( 1963), Ghana’s Heritage of Culture, Leipzig:: Koehler & Amelang;.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Ayiku, Robert Kingsley. ( 1998;), ‘ Symbolic meanings in the Ghanaian arts: A step towards developing cultural literacy. ’, Ph.D. thesis, Montreal:: Concordia University;.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Blumer, Herbert. ( 1969), Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method, Berkeley:: University of California Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Boddy-Evans, Alistair. ( 2018;), ‘ Kente cloth. ’, ThoughtCo African History Recordings, 10 June, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-kente-cloth-43303. Accessed 20 January 2019.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Breidenbach, Paul. ( 1976;), ‘ Colour symbolism and ideology in a Ghanaian healing movement. ’, Journal of the International African Institute, 46:2, pp. 137–45.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Buah, Francis Kwamina. ( 1980), A History of Ghana, London:: Macmillan Education Limited;.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Chang, Mei-Yen. ( 2010;), ‘ Lunar New Year in Taiwan. ’, International Journal of Education Through Art, 6:1, pp. 41–57.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Cherry, Kendra. ( 2019;), ‘ Color psychology: Does it affect how you feel?. ’, Verywell Mind Cognitive Psychology Post, 28 May, https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824. Accessed 18 August 2019.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Eiseman, Leatrice. ( 2000), Pantone Guide to Communicating with Colour, Sarasota:: Grafix Press Ltd;.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Ghana Statistical Service ( 2012), 2010 Population and Housing Sensus, Accra:: Ghana Statistical Service;.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Guerini, Federica. ( 2006), Language Alternation Strategies in Multilingual Settings: A Case Study, Bern:: International Academic Publishers;.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Jameson, Kimberly. ( 2005;), ‘ Culture and cognition: What is universal about the representation of color experience?. ’, Journal of Cognition and Culture, 5:3, pp. 293–347.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Kodzo, Lloyd. ( 2017), Everything You Need to Know about Kente, Virginia:: Advansync LLC;, https://www.kentecloth.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/kentecloth.pdf. Accessed 12 August 2019.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Kwon, Jain. ( 2010;), ‘ Cultural meaning of color in healthcare environments: A symbolic interaction approach. ’, Ph.D. thesis, Minnesota:: University of Minnesota;.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Madray, Damian. ( 2017;), ‘ The evolution of design with culture thinking. ’, UX Collective Newsletter, https://uxdesign.cc/exploring-how-to-design-meaningful-products-with-culture-31b1fe132bd3. Accessed 17 March 2019.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Maroto, Jesús, and De Bortoli, Mario. ( 2001;), ‘ Web site localisation. ’, Global Propaganda, Paisley:: University of Paisley;, http://www.globalpropaganda.com/articles/WebSite%20Localisation.pdf. Accessed 8 December 2019.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Mazhitayeva, Shara, and Kaskatayeva, Zhanar. ( 2013;), ‘ Color semantics: Linguistic-cultural aspect. ’, International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 1:1, pp. 34–37.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Pender, Ken. ( 1998), Digital Color in Graphic Design, Woburn:: Butterworth-Heinemann;.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Raider, Rose. ( 2009;), ‘ Color psychology and graphic design applications. ’, thesis, Lynchburg:: Liberty University;.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Rattray, Robert S.. ( 1927), Religion and Art in Ashanti, London:: Oxford University Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Sausmarez, Maurice de. ( 2009), Basic Design: The Dynamics of Visual Form, London:: Herbert Press;.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Wang, Shei-chau. ( 2009;), ‘ Contextualizing meaning as personal cultural inquiry: A book-making project. ’, International Journal of Education Through Art, 5:1, pp. 75–92.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. deGraft-Yankson, Patrique. ( 2020;), ‘ Of the Akan people: Colour and design education in Ghana. ’, International Journal of Education Through Art, 16:3, pp. 399–416, doi: https://doi.org/10.1386/eta_00041_1
     [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/eta_00041_1
Loading
Of the Akan people: Colour and design education in Ghana
International Journal of Education Through Art 16, 399 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1386/eta_00041_1
/content/journals/10.1386/eta_00041_1
/content/journals/10.1386/eta_00041_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): Akan culture; Akan-Kultur; art education; colour perception; design education; Designausbildung; Farbwahrnehmung; Ghanaian schooling; ghanaische Schulbildung; Kunstunterricht; visual art; Visuelle Kunst

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error