Oral history interview with Kofi Kissi Dompere
Object Details
- General
- Associated documentation for this interview is available in the Anacostia Community Museum Archives.
- Title created by ACMA staff using text written on sound cassette, contents of audio recording, textual transcript, and/or associated archival documentation.
- Names
- Howard University
- Dompere, K. K.
- Collection Creator
- Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum
- Place
- Ghana
- Africa
- Philadelphia (Pa.)
- Washington (D.C.)
- United States
- Topic
- Ashanti (African people)
- Africans
- College teachers
- Economists
- Radio broadcasters
- Emigration and immigration
- Radio programs
- Music
- Music and philosophy
- Musicians
- Musical instruments
- Music -- African influences
- Drumming
- Rhythm
- Dance
- Art
- Education
- Language and languages
- Nightclubs
- Disc jockeys
- Festivals
- Associations, institutions, etc.
- Interviews
- Culture
- Ghanaians
- See more items in
- Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records
- Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. Exhibition Records / Series 3: Oral History Interviews
- Sponsor
- Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
- Extent
- 2 Digital files
- 1 Sound cassette
- Date
- circa 1992-1993
- Archival Repository
- Anacostia Community Museum Archives
- Type
- Archival materials
- Digital files
- Sound cassettes
- Citation
- Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
- Collection Rights
- Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
- Note
- The total playing time of interview recording is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Scope and Contents
- Kofi Kissi Dompere – a professor, economist, and statistician - spoke about where he is from in Ghana; his migration to the United States to study in Philadelphia, and later to Washington, DC to teach at Howard University; and his first impression of the United States when he arrived in Philadelphia. Dompere stated he is part of the "kingdom of Ashantis". Dompere spoke about the radio shows, "African Rhythms and Extensions" and "World Rhythms", he hosts on WPFW; African music and its philosophy; African musicians and instruments; the rhythms of African music found in music throughout the world, including jazz, go-go, rap, and Brazilian music; improvisation and rhythm of African music, dance, and art; the rhythm patterns on the African continent; the relationship between drumming and dancing in African culture; Salsa Africana; and the most popular forms of music coming out of Africa. Dompere explained Afro-centric education; the European thought system versus African thought system; how the foundation of European knowledge system was developed from the African thought system; the importance of individuals and communities to have a thought system where they can reason correctly and verify truth; the importance of discipline in education; and the struggle between Africa and Europe, and the racial undertone. Dompere explained how Black language is influenced by African language; and how Black people still have within them the rhythmic understanding that allows them to develop the true African rhythm pattern. He spoke about African languages and African names; the influence of African culture in the United States; how language of music bridges gaps of differences and creates environment of understanding; the freedom of improvisation; African values, spiritually, and worship; and how the world is governed by rhythms. Dompere spoke about African musicians and African music scene in Washington, DC; night clubs, specifically Kilimanjaro, and African DJs; the stores where African music can be purchased in Washington, DC; African music producers; the Ghanaian community in Washington, DC; and Ghanaian and African cultural activities, festivals, societies, and churches in Washington, DC. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include white noise and static, and some sound distortion. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1712088000981-1712088003367-1
- Metadata Usage
- CC0