ABOUT NKA
Nka is an Igbo (African) word for artistry, its literary translation is “…of art”. It is also an Akan word that implies “may be” but in Akan, nká means “ancient”. We reckon the arts are the most ancient of human activities.
Along these lines, Nka Foundation has a focus on human capital development through use of the arts, broadly defined to include visual arts, literary arts, performing arts, design, new media/film production, arts history, arts criticism, arts education, arts administration and curatorship, and emerging others.
Nka Foundation was in development in 2005 to bring together individuals and groups to engage in local-global humanitarian activities through use of the arts. In 2007, it developed as African Community of Arts Educators (AfriCOAE) and conducted projects at Accra and Kumasi from 2008 to 2009. In February 2008, FocusOnTheArts.Org evolved to extend AfriCOAE’s endeavors. In August 2008, Nka Foundation was established as a network of Arts Village and arts-based community projects in Africa and other industrially developing parts of the globe. In 2009, it was incorporated as a non-profit seeking company under the laws of the Republic of Ghana to carry on the work of bringing together motivated creative individuals in arts and technology, arts groups and supportive others to create cross-cultural synergy for community arts practice and infrastructure to support their continued professional growth and enhance the social, cultural and economic vitality of, especially rural communities in the Anglophone, Lusophone and Francophone African settings. The Foundation will be registered and develop residency facilities in other countries; each centre within the Network is to be independent but will similarly respond to local needs.
As an organization that has a focus on the arts for human capital development, Nka Foundation:
- Has its membership open to resource members of the arts public and arts supportive organizations, local or international, and can further the artistic and arts related purposes of its members.
- Initiates and promotes artistic, humanitarian and educational projects or activities that build cultural bridges between Africa and the rest of the world.
- Leads or engages in skills development and social integration of the disadvantaged members of the society and any other free exercise of the arts designed to accomplish community ends.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barthosa Nkurumeh, PhD
Art Educator / Projects Director, USA
Ephrème Ouedraogo
Architect / Burkina Faso Coordinator, Burkina Faso
Frank Appiah-Kubi
Teacher / Community Coordinator, Ghana
Ikem Nkurumeh
Technologist / Regional Overseer, USA
Isaac Chibua