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.
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.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.
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.
Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity among Black Immigrants in Washington, D. C. exhibition records, Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for partial processing of the collection was supported by a grant from the Smithsonian Institution's Collections Care and Preservation Fund (CCPF).
National Museum of African American History and Culture (U.S.) Search this
Extent:
6 Film reels (6 Super 8 film reels)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Home movies
Place:
Washington (D.C.)
United States of America -- Massachusetts -- Plymouth County -- Plymouth
Description:
Entertainment during a family gathering. Features clips of people dancing and others lounging around. Includes footage of the beach and a wedding. Filmed during the late 70s or early 80s.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is available online for open research.
Collection Rights:
The Great Migration Home Movie Study Collection is a product of and owned by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution.
Copyright for all works are retained by the creators of the original analog materials.
The contents of the Great Migration Home Movie Project are made available to the public for the purposes of education and scholarly research. The home movies digitized through the project are not available for commercial licensing. Educational and scholarly use may be considered on an individual basis.
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts. Supported by the Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History.
Sponsor:
This project receives support from the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts and from the Center for the Digitization and Curation of African American History at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Museum, Smithsonian Institution.