The 25th Anniversary Planning Committee of the College of Health Sciences with great pleasure invites the University Community and Alumni of the College to the upcoming launch ceremony of the College’s Silver Jubilee with reflections on its rich history in education, research and community service with activities such as symposium, unveiling of logo, unveiling of anniversary cloth and unveiling of major activities earmarked in commemoration of the anniversary.
The theme for the celebration is “UG College of Health Sciences @25: Transforming lives through excellence in Education, Research and Healthcare”.
The anniversary event will be held in two folds and as follows:
LAUNCH
Date: Wednesday, 14th May, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Venue: West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) Auditorium, University of Ghana
Attire: Anniversary T-shirt
Chair: Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana
SYMPOSIUM
Date: Wednesday, 14th May, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) Auditorium, University of Ghana
Theme: Reclaiming the Narrative on Black Personality: Emphasizing the Humanness of the Black Person with Woolly Hair
Speakers: Prof. Frederick Kwaku Addai and Prof. Samuel A. Ntewusu
ABSTRACT
The historical and prevalent narrative on Black people’s identity has been shaped by distorted, ignorant, misunderstood, disagreeable, denigrating, and even dehumanizing perspectives that fail to recognize the full scope of Black individuality and culture. It is pathetically ironic how in this 21st century, the people called Blacks seem to accept and live by the age-old fallacies about them. This paper seeks to reclaim the narrative on Black personality, focusing on the celebration and affirmation of inherent humanness and dignity of Black people. Emphasis is placed on the symbolic significance of woolly hair, by which the Greek historian Herodotus called them ULOTRICHOIDS. This singularly exclusive human feature is shared with “the ancient of days” as seen in Biblical visions, but has historically been misrepresented, stigmatized, and mislabeled kinky and unacceptable in its natural state. Despite wide diversity among Black peoples, there are common exquisite morphologically human features, strong culturally family-based societal organizations, as well as aesthetic, and spiritual meanings of their innate traits of singing, drumming (rhythmicity), and belief in the spiritual dimension to life (a seamless continuity between what is seen -physical existence and what is unseen (spiritual beings). This discussion highlights and presents these features as powerful expressions of identity and resistance against Eurocentric beauty and civilization standards.
Using a kaleidoscopic lens, the presentation explores how reclaiming this narrative not only restores agency to Black voices but also challenges societal structures that perpetuate biases (even by the Black people themselves). It argues for a change in thinking that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of the Black person’s personality and experiences while underscoring the universality of human emotions, aspirations, and self-worth. Ultimately, this paper aims to contribute to a more inclusive and empathetic understanding of humanity, one that acknowledges and celebrates the unique humanness of the Black person everywhere. It debunks false narratives that a Black person is by nature and nurture less than human and urges Black people everywhere to unapologetically claim their quintessential humanness.
All are cordially invited.
Please see enclosed flyer.