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Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection, 1970-2018

By Finding aid prepared by Michael Dicianna and Charles Martin, with additions made by Alexus Austin and Natalia Fernández.

Collection Overview

Title: Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection, 1970-2018

Predominant Dates: 1980-2018

ID: MSS Addy

Primary Creator: Addy, Obo

Extent: 19.35 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

The Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection is arranged in 4 subgroups: Subgroup 1. Obo Addy Materials, 1970-2018; Subgroup 2. Homowo African Arts and Cultures Materials, 1980-2011; and Subgroup 3. Obo Addy and Homowo Media, 1980-2008. 4. Obo Addy Legacy Project, 2012-2018.

Subgroup 1 (Obo Addy Materials) consists of 4 series: 1. Promotions and Publicity, 1971-2018; 2. Teaching and Educational Endeavors, 1993-2008; 3. Photographs, 1982-2009; and 4. Subject Files, 1970-2005.

Subgroup 2 (Homowo African Arts and Cultures Materials) consists of 6 series: 1. Administration, 1993-2011; 2. Grants, 1996-2008; 3. Homowo Festival, 1990-2011; 4. Immigration Files, 1980-2006; 5. Outreach and Education, 1999-2007; and 6. Performance Materials, 1980-2011.

Subgroup 3 (Obo Addy and Homowo Media) consists of 4 series: 1. Video Presentations, 1990-2005; 2. Compact Discs and DVDs, 1994-2008; 3. Professional/Studio Format Media, 1980-1994; and 4. Photographs - Unsorted, circa 1986 - circa 2000.

Subgroup 4 (Obo Addy Legacy Project Materials) consists of 3 series: 1. Promotions and Publicity, 2013-2018; 2. Teaching and Educational Endeavors, 2012-2018; 3. Administrative Materials, 2012-2018.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection consists of records, promotional materials, and various forms of media related to the Homowo African Arts and Cultures organization, later known as the Obo Addy Legacy Project. Obo Addy's personal materials include correspondence, promotional materials, and photographs. Obo Addy, a master drummer at the age of six, established the Homowo African Arts and Cultures organization with his wife and manager Susan Addy as a way to celebrate and preserve the traditional music of Ghana and Africa. The organization was established in 1986 and closed in 2018.

The floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs described in this collection require migration to a digital format and are not immediately available for patron use. Please see SCARC's "Accessing Audio-Visual Content" policy for more information.

Scope and Content Notes

The Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection consists of records, promotional materials, and various forms of media related to the Homowo African Arts and Cultures organization. Obo Addy’s personal materials include correspondence, promotional materials and photographs. The collection is divided into four subgroups, Obo Addy Materials, Homowo Organizational records and materials, a separate sub group for the various forms of media, and a fourth subgroup, the Obo Addy Legacy Project documents.

The floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs described in this collection require migration to a digital format and are not immediately available for patron use. Please see SCARC's "Accessing Audio-Visual Content" policy for more information.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Born January 15, 1936 in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Obo Addy was one of 55 children of Jacob Kpani Addy, a medicine man who integrated rhythmic music into healing and other rituals. Obo Addy was designated by his tribe as a master drummer by the age of six. After he had become Ga Master, the National Arts Council of Ghana hired Addy in 1969, and he received his first international exposure at the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972. After moving away from performing Western musical standards on the nightclub circuit, Obo Addy joined the National Arts Council of Ghana, becoming a master in the traditional music and dance of the many cultures in Ghana. He then moved to London and spent six years touring internationally until 1978, when he moved to Portland. There he met and married his wife Susan, who began managing his musical career and his musical groups Kukrudu and later the more traditional Okropong. In 1996, Obo Addy was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the highest honor a traditional artist can receive in the United States. Addy is the first African born artist to ever receive the award.

Beginning in 1986, Obo Addy and his wife Susan formed the Homowo African Arts and Cultures organization, a virtual cultural center with offerings in schools, parks, community centers, and performance venues all over the country. Obo Addy passed away on September 13, 2012 leaving this rich legacy that will be carried on by the current organization, the Obo Addy Legacy Project. The Obo Addy Legacy Project continued Homowo’s valuable work of adding to the quality of life, the diversity, and the creativity of the Northwest. After 32 years of introducing people to the positive music and culture of Ghana, the Obo Addy Legacy Project closed in 2018.



Author: Michael Dicianna and Charles Martin, with additions made by Natalia Fernández.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 1510 photographs, 172 videotapes, and 50 CDs and DVDs; 21 boxes, including 2 oversize boxes

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: The Obo Addy Legacy Project has retained copyright of all materials in the collection. Requests for permission to use or publish the materials will be forwarded by the Special Collections & Archives Research Center to the organization for approval.

Acquisition Note: The Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection was donated to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center by Susan Addy in 2013, with additions made in 2018.

Related Materials: This collection is a component of the Oregon Multicultural Archives (OMA). The University of Washington contains a set of film recordings of Obo Addy that are available online as part of its Ethnomusicology Archives’ Garfias Film Collection. The Albina Music Trust's Albina Community Archive also contains recordings and additional materials related to Obo Addy.

Preferred Citation: Obo Addy Legacy Project Collection (MSS Addy), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Finding Aid Revision History: The 2014 version of this finding aid has been updated to incorporate additions to the collection received in 2018.

Creators

Addy, Obo
Addy, Susan
Homowo African Arts and Cultures

People, Places, and Topics

Addy, Obo
Arts, Ghanaian
Dance--Ghana.
Drum--Performance.
Ghana
Ghanaian Americans--Oregon--Portland.
Homowo African Arts and Cultures
Music festivals--Oregon.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Portland State University

Forms of Material

Audiocassettes.
Born digital.
Compact discs.
DVDs.
Film negatives.
Photographic prints.
Slides (photographs).
Video recordings (physical artifacts)


Box and Folder Listing