Romeo Quaye has been in the art business for over a decade, having commissioned and sold crafts, drums, and
paintings to satisfied, loyal customers in West Africa and around the globe. His extensive knowledge of traditional Asante
Adinkra designs, frequently used in the drums and crafts he commissions, and his expertise in Ghanaian artwork and
craftwork has garnered the respect of colleagues, employees, and clients. Over his long career in the business he has
developed a keen eye for quality work, and is staunchly committed to providing only the best. He has worked with
hundreds of carvers, and hopes to bring a greater global awareness and interest to Ghanaian artisanry.
Orly Jalowski graduated from New York University in 2000 with a BA in Linguistics and Languages. She worked at a
linguistics-based software company for three years before leaving to pursue a different path. She spent a year teaching
English, working with wildlife, learning new languages, and travelling in West and Southern Africa. During that stay, she
realized that knowledge of Western culture was largely limited to Hollywood movies, news headlines, and third-hand
anecdotes; and knew that the same could be said in the West about Africa. She saw the Arts Center as a perfect setting for
people to gather and directly share the knowledge, skill, and energy that each individual brings with them. Her hope is to
provide a forum where people come together, face-to-face, and take from each other what could never be exchanged by
the media, over the internet, or through the grapevine. Orly splits her time between Washington DC and Accra and feels
privileged to work with such a talented and hardworking group of people in bringing this vision to reality.
Solla Ibn Haruna is a second-year student at the School of Administration at the University of Ghana, Legon and has
a diploma in Accounting from the Institute of Professional Studies. He has also worked for two years at Research
International GH, LTD, conducting customer satisfaction surveys. Born and bred in Accra, he is a humble African
entrepenuer with strong convictions about establishing and maintaining fair business practices in the Ghanaian
private sector.
Halidu Al-Hassan aka Scorpion has been selling crafts at the Arts Center, fitting
drums, and working alongside Romeo for many years. He's hard working, funny,
and knows A LOT! We're happy to have him as part of the AAE team!
Richard has been carving drums at the Arts Center for many years. The
drums he carves are sold throughout the world. His expertise, patience and
easy going manner puts his students at ease and makes carving accessible
to beginners and more advanced students alike.
Kwaku Owusu aka Vibration King is a respected and reknowned drummer at
the Arts Center. He has performed in venues across Ghana and West Africa
with his troupe. He is truly magnificent to watch and listen to.
Abraham Kwabena Ayesu performs regularly in Accra with his troupe. He is an
expert in Ghanaian rhythms and dance. We are lucky to have him teach with us.
More peeps to come................
Who we are:
The Accra Artisans Exchange is a collaboration of like-minded individuals from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean who share a love of West African art and
music, an aspiration to bring together different peoples, and a strong desire to improve the current economic conditions in Ghana. Our program aims to
facilitate a one-on-one exchange between skilled African craftsmen and people from around the globe who want not only to learn a centuries-old craft, but
also to bring with them elements from their own culture to share with one another.
The Art Center, in the heart of Central Accra, Ghana’s capital, houses dozens of workshops where hundreds of drums are produced each week and
distributed to every part of the world. Unfortunately, there is not a constant stream of commissions for these drums, and as a result, many talented and hard-
working carvers remain out of work for uncomfortably long stretches at a time. Our program strives to provide a steady stream of students who will fill a much
needed, direct relationship with these artisans, and provide viable, constant, and sustainable employment to an often over-looked, struggling stratum of the
Ghanaian labor force.
African drums are sold in North America and Europe for hundreds of dollars each. For little more than the price of a drum purchased there, students will
spend a month living in Ghana working with some of the best carvers in the world, learning the history of African drumming, exchanging stories and ideas
with Ghanaians, and at the end come back home with a drum they have proudly carved themselves. We guarantee the craftsmanship and quality of our
teachers and the materials we use. Not only will all students coming out of this program use top-quality materials to carve skillfully-crafted drums, they will
also learn how to distinguish the quality drums from their inferior counterparts, all too commonly sold for inflated prices in the West. This program is for all
people who are interested in learning about Africa and experiencing the African way of life. Prospective students will have an eagerness to experience life,
which, while missing many of the luxuries they may be accustomed to, is filled with a vibrancy, energy, and exuberance such as is unparalleled almost
anywhere in the world.
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EXCHANGE
ExCHANGE
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A r t i s a n r y and P e r f o r m a n c e in Ghana, West Africa
