Agbe De Souza
Hey Everybody,
My name’s Max, I’m 24 years old, and I’m now in my last stretch of school studying music at Hampshire College, a small liberal arts school in Western Massachusetts.
I recently returned from a seven-month field study abroad in Ghana (a country situated between Coite D’Ivoire and Togo), West Africa, learning traditional music and dance at the Dagara music center in Accra, the capital city. It was an experience that changed my life in profound ways, helping me realize the impact and importance of community, regardless of where one is.
I made this account to raise money for Agbe De Souza, a dear friend and mentor from Ghana, whose severe leg injury (to his left knee) over 20 years ago has led to extreme deterioration, pain and now almost complete immobility in his right knee. Because of this, he now requires total reconstructive surgery in both his knees.
Agbe or “Buju,” De Souza has been the director and only surviving member of Africana Dance Ensemble since their founding in 1991 at CYCC, a community youth and cultural center based in central Accra.
CYCC’s mission of continuing traditional music and dance in Ghana has for over 20 years helped provide youth with a greater sense of identity, community and career direction.
AFRICANA DANCE ENSEMBLE
Africana Dance Ensemble, or A.D.E, despite numerous tragedies and almost constant adversity, has remained a significant cultural group in Ghana since their beginning 25 years ago. Maintaining a prolific repertoire of traditional and creative dance pieces ranging from all over Ghana and greater West Africa, their energy, professionalism and musicianship is electrifying, a standard that is maintained both on and off the stage.
More than that, they are a family, a community of individuals so remarkably open, welcoming, patient, and generous that one immediately feels at home in their presence.
Since their start, Africana has performed in Libya, Italy, the U.K, Burkina Faso, and continue to perform all over Ghana. However, they have never toured in the US.
Africana’s office is also based at CYCC, which is where they rehearse three times a week, and will occasionally perform programs there. *Programs, or government-public, private social events or celebrations- serve as the only means of income*
Some basic facts about Agbe
Agbe, although an Ewe man and originally from Keta, a relatively small coastal town in the Volta region, has lived the majority of his life in Accra. At 42 years old, he has been living in the Mamobi/Nima area of Accra for over 10 years now, and has a 13-year-old daughter. His main profession for the last 30 plus years has been performing both traditional and contemporary music and dance, a career that was further concretized when he helped form Africana Dance Ensemble in 1991. The group, up until 2010, was lead by the original Founder and visionary, Mawutor Akpobi, who passed away in 2010 due to kidney failure. Since then, Agbe has been the director/leader of A.D.E, and is now the only surviving member from when it was founded 25 years ago.
As someone who has been playing traditional music and dance most of his life, Agbe is a master musician, whose deep understanding of the music encompasses the accompanying dances and choreography, vocals and instrumental parts. The director of A.D.E, Agbe is responsible for overseeing all of Africana’s rehearsals and programs, whose leadership is vital to the success and continuation of A.D.E.
Why I’m making this account
Over 20 years ago, Agbe endured a severe knee injury while playing soccer, and because he could not afford the medical expenses, was forced to leave it untreated. Because of that, the constant stress of walking exacerbated the injury, and for the next 20 years, walking required Agbe to put all his weight on the right leg.
Constant mobility and inability to receive treatment has caused severe inflammation in both knees. Without any remaining cartilage in both knees, walking has relegated the pressure to his remaining tendons/ligaments, a process now leaving only grating-grinding bone on bone contact with every step.
Fortunately for him, the severe and constant pain, in addition to the now complete immobility of his right leg, only began within the last 3 months. For this time, he has not been able to sleep, not to mention endure excruciating pain without any legitimate medical treatment.
Renewing his insurance card in June, Agbe was forced to wait entire month before he could receive an x-ray and full diagnosis by a specialist. In August was finally able to see the specialist at the 37 military hospital in central Accra, and because I’ll be uploading a scanned copy of his medical report, I won’t go into too much medical detail.
Brief Summary of Diagnosis
Bilateral severe osteoarthritis in both knees, especially the right one, which, as of now, is almost completely immobile (unable to stretch)
The condition is so severe that total knee replacement serves as the only viable option
The doctor advised that the surgery be performed in October, when a group of knee specialists from the U.K will be coming down
For the time being, Agbe must receive steroid injections to help deal with the pain, which by themselves expensive, costing 300 Ghana Cedis per shot (roughly 80 dollars)
Diagnosis by Lieutenant Col Dr. Thomas Aquinas Gbireh, Orthopedic surgeon at 37 Military Hospital, Accra
The U.K specialist: Paul Ofori Atta
each implant is £4000 or about $5600.
37 hospital fee is GHC6000.00 or about $1600
$1600= hospital costs, rehabilitation costs (medication, physical therapy)
5600 +1600 = 7200 x 2
this gives a total of $14,400
The report does not mention the expenses of the rehabilitation, that is, the cost of physical therapy, medication and other equipment.
How the money will be used
The money will first and foremost fund the necessary surgeries and knee replacement in both legs, in addition to the additional medical expenses needed for a successful recovery and rehabilitation (medication, crutches, etc.)
***I have created this account for Agbe De Souza, and for the time being, will withdraw the funds to my own account, as I am inhibited from relegating withdrawn funds to international bank accounts
2. Once the money is raised, it will be transferred electronically, and in full, to Agbe's own bank account in Ghana, (ADB/Agricultural Development Bank)
How soon we need the funds
The specialist from the U.K will be coming down to Accra in October, and given the cost of the surgery, the money is needed as soon as we can get it.
Why this matters
First and foremost, Agbe’s success as a director and member of the group hinges upon his own intense level of active involvement, a factor which necessitates constant mobility, especially during rehearsals. This always entails a high level of movement back and forth between the drummers-musical ensemble and the dancers, and without the use of his legs, Agbe cannot fulfill his role as active leader.
constant mobility crucial to his success as a leader and more so, the success and continuation of A.D.E
On a personal level for me,
Agbe De Souza was my main drumming teacher for the majority of those 7 months, and infinitely more, accompanying me on my travels, sharing deep cultural wisdom and knowledge about the music and culture of Ghana, and creating new opportunities to observe traditional music and dance.
Such experiences include guiding me through the chaotically crowded markets of Kumasi, haggling down transportation costs from countless taxi drivers, helping me process and understand the deep, spiritual practices during a three-day music festival in Agbozume, and more importantly, remaining a constant pillar of support, guidance and friendship.
As a brother, mentor, teacher, and dear dear friend, and I am in incredible debt to him for his friendship, love, and guidance, and it is for this reason that I am making this account.
Because I am entirely indebted to Agbe for all that he has given me, this is my opportunity to repay him
Funding this surgery (and through rehabilitation-physical therapy) will, first and foremost, enable a mobility and freedom in his legs long forgotten. Before his injury, Agbe’s initial aspiration was to be a dancer, a life goal that, because of his injury, was never fully realized (although he can dance, and quite well). With the surgery, he will be able to reconnect with this passion.
Supporting Agbe will inevitably mean ensuring the well-being and success of his family, the Africana and greater Mamobi community in central Accra, not to mention anyone else interested in studying in Ghana.
As I’ve mentioned before, this experienced not only instilled a sense of purpose, drive and excitement for the future, but helped me overcome deep seated psychological obstacles, the results of which opened my mind and heart. West African music and dance has become my passion, and looking forward, it is my intention to share A.D.E with the greater global community.
