Cephas Yao Agbemenu
Encyclopedia
Art Professor Cephas Yao Agbemenu, teaches at the Kenyatta University
in Nairobi
, Kenya
. He is a sculptor and a traditional African wood carver who sees parallels between his carvings and life.
of Ghana
, West Africa.
As a child, Cephas Yao Agbemenu grew up in Ghana, going to school where art and crafts lessons were a part of the curriculum. He also learned farming, backyard gardening, fishing, trapping and hunting. All requiring good coordination and visual abilities in order to complete those tasks.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu went on to Secondary School at Evangelical Presbyterian Secondary School Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana where he received his Ordinary Level, School Certificate. Agbemenu's major subjects were Art, English Language, Ewe Language, Math, General Science, Principles of Accounts, Geography.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then attended Kpandu Secondary School, Volta Region, Ghana. He completed this program with an Advanced Level, School Certificate. The major subjects were Art, Economics, Geography, General Studies in the year of 1972.
June 1976 he completed a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art with First Class Honors’ at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His Major was Sculpture, Painting, Art History, English Literature, Art Appreciation and African Studies.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then obtained his Master of Fine Arts
Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, February 1980.
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Cephas Yao Agbemenu major was Sculpture
which included Wood Carving, P.O.P, Concrete and Bronze casting. Minor in Painting, Drawing and Art History.
, Ghana in 1977 with Art, Sculpture and Drawing.
Agbemenu traveled to many different countries and taught African Art, Sculpture, Black History in a global perspective, along with Ceramics, African History, Culture European Art History and African Carvings
.
1987 Cephas Yao Agbemenu started as a Senior Lecturer, in the Department of Fine Art, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Lecturing: Contemporary African Art; Sculpture and traditional African Wood carving.
on March 2, 2010.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu has said that "It's not necessary to pursue art, but I think it's necessary to pursue artistic thinking; the thinking that there is an alternative solution."
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then traveled to Montgomery County Community College, Social Sciences Division, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, c/o Dr. Aaron Shatzman from January 2010 – June 2010 (Scholar-in-Residence Program)
Cephas Yao Agbemenu taught Contemporary African Art and Culture, in addition to conducting studio classes in Traditional African Wood Carving. The basic tools used for Agbemenu's wood carving classes were straight and spoon gouges, chisel, carving knife, veiner.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu was quoted that "America is seen as the citadel of knowledge and power. That is why many of us chose to come to the United States for graduate studies. My presence at Montgomery County Community College will be measured in both theory and practice, in terms of cross-cultural understanding in this period of globalization."
founded in Nairobi, Kenya. Professor Cephas Agbemenu was awarded in June 2008 a grant to compile a booklet of 100 EWE Ghana Proverbs that would include African Symbols as illustrations of the proverbs, translated into English. The work has been published on the www.afriprov.org website. The Theme of "Reconciliation and Peace".
A Collection of EWE Proverbs was published with illustrations and translations by Cephas Yao Agbemenu on November 1, 2010.
Kenyatta University
Kenyatta University, located in Nairobi, Kenya is the second largest public university in the country . The University is located in Kahawa, about from Nairobi's city centre, along the Nairobi-Thika road.- History :...
in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. He is a sculptor and a traditional African wood carver who sees parallels between his carvings and life.
Biography
Cephas Yao Agbemenu was born May 29, 1951 in Leklebi-Kame, in the Volta RegionVolta Region
Volta Region is one of Ghana's ten administrative regions. It is to the east of Lake Volta. Its capital is Ho.-List of districts:The region has 18 districts consisting of 3 municipal and 15 ordinary districts:-Background:...
of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, West Africa.
As a child, Cephas Yao Agbemenu grew up in Ghana, going to school where art and crafts lessons were a part of the curriculum. He also learned farming, backyard gardening, fishing, trapping and hunting. All requiring good coordination and visual abilities in order to complete those tasks.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu went on to Secondary School at Evangelical Presbyterian Secondary School Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana where he received his Ordinary Level, School Certificate. Agbemenu's major subjects were Art, English Language, Ewe Language, Math, General Science, Principles of Accounts, Geography.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then attended Kpandu Secondary School, Volta Region, Ghana. He completed this program with an Advanced Level, School Certificate. The major subjects were Art, Economics, Geography, General Studies in the year of 1972.
June 1976 he completed a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art with First Class Honors’ at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His Major was Sculpture, Painting, Art History, English Literature, Art Appreciation and African Studies.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then obtained his Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, February 1980.
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
Cephas Yao Agbemenu major was Sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
which included Wood Carving, P.O.P, Concrete and Bronze casting. Minor in Painting, Drawing and Art History.
Teaching and Career
Cephas Yao Agbemenu started to teach at the University of Science and Technology KumasKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is a university located in Kumasi, Ghana.It is the second public university established in the country. The University has its roots in the plans of the Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I to establish a university in Kumasi as part of his drive...
, Ghana in 1977 with Art, Sculpture and Drawing.
Agbemenu traveled to many different countries and taught African Art, Sculpture, Black History in a global perspective, along with Ceramics, African History, Culture European Art History and African Carvings
Wood carving
Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object...
.
1987 Cephas Yao Agbemenu started as a Senior Lecturer, in the Department of Fine Art, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Lecturing: Contemporary African Art; Sculpture and traditional African Wood carving.
Fulbright Scholar
Cephas Yao Agbemenu was awarded the Fulbright Scholar which is one of the most honable awards one can receive worldwide. This program has granted Cephas Yao Agbemenu a visit to the United States to teach at two colleges in Pennsylvania. The first was Reading Area Community College in the city of Reading where he gave lessons on African Woodcarving and also participated in a Dialog "The Spiritual Dimension in Art" with Art Professor Tullio DeSantisTullio DeSantis
Tullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
on March 2, 2010.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu has said that "It's not necessary to pursue art, but I think it's necessary to pursue artistic thinking; the thinking that there is an alternative solution."
Cephas Yao Agbemenu then traveled to Montgomery County Community College, Social Sciences Division, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, c/o Dr. Aaron Shatzman from January 2010 – June 2010 (Scholar-in-Residence Program)
Cephas Yao Agbemenu taught Contemporary African Art and Culture, in addition to conducting studio classes in Traditional African Wood Carving. The basic tools used for Agbemenu's wood carving classes were straight and spoon gouges, chisel, carving knife, veiner.
Cephas Yao Agbemenu was quoted that "America is seen as the citadel of knowledge and power. That is why many of us chose to come to the United States for graduate studies. My presence at Montgomery County Community College will be measured in both theory and practice, in terms of cross-cultural understanding in this period of globalization."
African proverbs
Cephas Yao Agbemenu was a contributor of the African Proverbs, Stories and Sayings committee, chaired by Father Joseph HealeyJoseph G. Healey
Joseph Graham Healey is considered one of the leading researchers, compilers and writers on African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories. He is a consultor to the African Proverbs Project and various journals...
founded in Nairobi, Kenya. Professor Cephas Agbemenu was awarded in June 2008 a grant to compile a booklet of 100 EWE Ghana Proverbs that would include African Symbols as illustrations of the proverbs, translated into English. The work has been published on the www.afriprov.org website. The Theme of "Reconciliation and Peace".
A Collection of EWE Proverbs was published with illustrations and translations by Cephas Yao Agbemenu on November 1, 2010.
External links
- Tullio DeSantis, "The Universal Language", Readingeagle ARTology Feb 23 2010. Reading Eagle
- Cephas Yao Agbemenu Information Retrieved 25 May 2010