Testimonial - My experience on a Ghanaian campus

My name is Hannah, I am 27 and have an academic background in Social Work and Development Studies. I decided to do a Master of Fine Arts in Curating at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana because of its holistic, power-critical, and emancipatory teaching approach. My interest in art evoked during a semester abroad at KNUST during my undergrad as I attended art exhibitions of students and visited the studios of alumni.

After graduation I did an internship with blaxTARLINES, an artist collective embedded in the department of painting and sculpture at KNUST. It has helped me to understand what art making can mean. Attending the lectures challenged and inspired my ways of understanding and navigating the world by exposing me to philosophical thought. Working together with artists, students and lecturers gave me confidence to explore own ways and means of expression as I was forced to strip myself of societal embedded expectations and rely on inner preferences. This confrontation was intimidating and even scary, but I realised its potential regarding self-determination and the idea of freedom. It evoked the interest to further my studies in the realm of art.

It is now my third time living in Kumasi and I have to say that my experience of the city is mostly determined by my time on the KNUST campus. It is a lush green, vast and calm area where I feel very comfortable and motivated. There are plenty of affordable and nice food and snack options available almost everywhere and at any time – which is quite convenient when working late. The community in my department and around is very accessible, engaged, and supportive. You feel instantly welcome and experience a fluidity that holds space to come up with own ideas and projects.

Talking about Ghana in general, I appreciate the “natural” (selbstverständlich) awareness and responsibility within society. People help without the need to ask for it, for example when carrying a heavy load on public transport. I experienced a mindset of making things work despite any odds and the willingness to mobilise resources for someone else.

Hence, if you plan to study in Ghana, reach out to people. Direct communication is the best way to get information and to navigate through any process and overcome challenges. And take ear plugs with you. The soundscape can be very overwhelming and nerve wrecking at times.