CULTURAL VISIT TO GHANA

DRUM AND DANCE TOUR 2012
27 December - 10th January

Your Host Samuel Yeboah

About the Tour
Samuel N Yeboah, Ghanaian drummer and master drum maker invites you to Ghana West Africa for a 2-week cultural visit. Samuel has many years experience hosting such cultural visits to Ghana, from organizing the accommodations, transport and food, to running and organizing workshops, and sightseeing excursions. On this tour you will be staying at a breathtaking ocean front beach cottage in Kokrobite, a drumming, dance and fishing community 45 minutes from Accra, the capital of Ghana. Here you will be a part of the community, take part in your choice of workshop from African drumming, singing, dance, textile design, bead jewelry making or drum making with some of the best artistes and craftspeople in Ghana. During your time you will also visit the waterfall, national parks, museums, arts, crafts, textile and bead markets, local community projects and other historic sites. You will mix with the local people to experience Africa from the inside. You will also have time to relax on the beach and catch inspiration.

About Ghana
Ghana is a small country on the West coast of Africa, formerly known as Gold Coast. It is surrounded by lush tropical rainforests, unspoiled beaches, game parks, and natural resources, such as diamonds, cocoa, timber and gold. It is known for its cultural heritage such as music, dance, craftsmanship and the arts.

Ghana has a stable government, making it a safe place to visit. Its people are known for their hospitality and friendliness (as they say in Ashanti 'Akwaaba', meaning welcome!). There are many places of interest to visit, such as Kakum National Park with its rainforest canopy walk, waterfall and mountains in the Volta Region, Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles, Mole National Park in the northern region, Aburi botanical gardens etc. In Accra there is the National Museum, the Centre for National Culture where you can see local craftspeople at work, as well as many other places of interest.

The national language spoken is English and the most commonly spoken local languages are Ashanti and Ga. The currency used is Cedis, (approx. 2 Cedi 40 Pesewas to 1 pound). The temperature is between 25-38 degrees Celcius. The ocean breeze cools the weather down to keep you feeling refreshed and comfortable. Enjoy all year round sunshine! For more about Ghana visit www.ghana.gov.gh.

WORKSHOP OPTIONS
Traditional Drumming, songs and percussion | African dance with chant songs | Batik and textile design | Drum making
You will have 20 hours of lessons in your workshop choices. You can choose to either do one workshop option for 2 weeks or choose between two workshop options, e.g. week 1 drumming, week 2 African dance. To do drum making you will have only that option to be able to finish your own drum that you personally will make and also have some time for weekend excursions. 

Workshops are held by professional artistes/craftspeople with many years experience teaching African, European, and American students at all levels of experience. Teachers are members of the Ghana Dance Association, Musicians Union of Ghana, Nkabom Music & Dance Ensemble, and have performed with the Pan-African orchestra the Ghana Dance Ensemble.

One-to-one tuition can be organized at an additional cost. On the registration form, please choose from the options: xylophone, flute, ngoni or kora lessons.

Accomodation
Your beautiful oceanfront beach cottage in Kokrobite, where you will stay most of the time, is a perfect spot to relax revive and rejuvenate. The beach cottage is situated 5 minutes walk from the house of the master drummer of Ghana, Mustapha Tetteh Addy, and 45 minutes drive from Accra the capital of Ghana. The rooms are mostly double rooms, based on two sharing, with the option to have a room to yourself. Most of the rooms are self-contained with en-suite toilet and bath (www.asaasiyaa.com).

In the Volta Region you will be warmly welcomed at a guest house run by a local family. In Okurase you will spend 2 nights at Nkabom (meaning unity) House with Nkabom Music and Dance Ensemble, in comfortable accommodation with full outdoor toilet and bathroom facilities. You will meet the chief and people of Okurase, see lots of people making drums and visit a community project.

FOOD
You will be served three delicious homemade meals per day; Breakfast will include fresh local fruits, juices, bread, coffee/tea, omelette, porridge. local honey. Lunch and dinner will include local and continental food served in the local way and will usually be a choice of rice, vegetables, fish or chicken sauce or soup, fried plantain, beans, peas, potatoes, yams etc. There is always a vegetarian option of each meal.

If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know at the time of booking.

HOW YOUR DAY WILL LOOK

WEEKEND EXCURSIONS
First weekend: An excursion to Cape Coast, (the old capital of Ghana). Includes a rainforest canopy walk at Kakum National Park, a visit to the historic Elmina slave castle, and local fishing communities. Meet local musicians and groups and see traditional music and dance performances from this region.

Second weekend: A visit to the Volta region of Ghana. Take a walk through the rainforest to see the waterfall, and take a swim and nature shower if you like! Day two will be a choice of either taking a longer trek walking through the rainforest, or visiting the monkey sanctuary. There will be entertainment provided by local artistes, who will perform the particular musical tradition of this region.

COST: £640/590 Save £50.00 if you book before the 25th October
Children 9-17 years accompanied by an adult £450.

The price of your holiday will include the following:
1. Pickup from airport in Accra on arrival and drop off to the airport on departure
2. Two weeks accommodation
3. 3 times daily homemade meals for 2 weeks, not including meals during weekend travel
4. 20 hours of tuition in your chosen workshop (all materials provided for bead making and drum making workshop, you can bring your own drum for drumming workshop or purchase one of our PRO quality Djembe or kpanlogo with bag for £50.
5. All local events and performances
6. Professional care and attention7. Transport to and from weekend excursions, (please note entrance fees to national park, waterfalls and other historic sites are to be paid individually. These prices range from between £2 - £4 each).

The price of your holiday does not include air fare to and from Ghana.

PREPARATION TIPS:
VISA: You will need a valid passport and visa to travel to Ghana. For United Kingdom citizens contact www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com for visa application forms. American citizens can contact www.ghanaembassy.org for visa application forms. From all other countries, Contact Ghana High Commission in your region for visa application forms. You will need two Ghana addresses which we will send to you when you are applying.

VACCINATIONS: The only legally required vaccination is yellow fever. However, please check with your local doctor as to any other vaccinations recommended for Ghana. We recommend anti-malaria medication, mosquito repellent and mosquito nets.

FLIGHTS TO GHANA: British Airways. Lufthansa, KLM, and all major flights fly to Accra Ghana. British Airways operates a 6 hour direct flight from Heathrow airport to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, where you will be picked up. Delta Airline features a nonstop direct flight from Atlanta, Georgia to Accra. Visit your local travel agents or check for flights online.

MONEY: Although Ghana does have cash machines accepting all major cards, we recommend bringing cash with you as this will save us having to wait in bank queues 

DEPOSIT:
£100 non-refundable deposit required to secure a place. Full payment is due by 10th December 2011. For booking form, questions or further information email Samuel powerfuldrums@yahoo.co.uk.

Thank you for sending your booking form. We look forward to seeing you in Ghana.
Below are contact addresses in Ghana for visa forms, landing cards, etc.