Awam Amkpa is a professor of drama, film and social and cultural analysis at New York University in New York and Abu Dhabi. Actor, playwright, director of stage plays, films and curator of visual arts, Awam Amkpa is a Nigerian-American.

Background

Currently a professor of Drama and Cultural Theory at the departments of Drama, Tisch School of the Arts and Social and Cultural Analysis, Faculty of Arts and Sciences at New York University. He received his B.A. in Dramatic Arts from

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

, Ile-Ife,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

where he studied under the tutelage of Wole Soyinka, his M.A. in Drama from

Ahmadu Bello University Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria. It was founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Al ...

, Zaria, Nigeria, and his Ph.D. from

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

Career

Dr. Amkpa is currently a professor of Drama at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

and in Social and Cultural Analysis/Africana studies at New York University. He has also taught at

Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College is a private liberal arts women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It is the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of elite historically women's colleges in the Northeastern United States. ...

. He is a theatre scholar and practitioner-director, playwright and actor, film maker and curator of visual and performing arts.

Books

*''Theatre and Postcolonial Desires'.'' New York: Routledge, 2003. ReSignifications: European Blackamoors, Africana Readings. Edited catalogue published by Postcart, Rome, Italy. 2016 Africa: See You, See Me. Edited catalogue, Africa.Cont, Lisboa. 2013

Filmography

*''

Truly, Madly, Deeply ''Truly, Madly, Deeply'' is a 1990 British fantasy drama film made for the BBC's ''Screen Two'' series, by BBC Films, Lionheart and Winston Pictures. The film, written and directed by Anthony Minghella, stars Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman. ...

'', 1991 - a ghost Director/Editor, ‘Accra: A Pan-African Rupture’ 75 mins Director/Editor, ‘A Very Very Short Story of Nollywood’ 15 mins Produced by Manthia Diawara. 2008 Director, ‘Women of Agbogloshi’ 12 mins- short documentary on Muslim women in Accra. 2007 Director, ‘Voices Against Aids’ 5 mins ‘Hip-Life’ music video shot and broadcast in Ghana for the West African Aids Federation. 2007 Assistant Director, Conakry Kas, directed by Manthia Diawara 2006 Assistant Director, Bamako Sigi-Kan, directed by Manthia Diawara. 2005 Director, Editor, Wazobia! Feature film written and produced by Tess Onwueme. 2005

Curatorial Practices

'Africa: Significaciones' at Centro Provincial de artes Plasticas y Diseño, Havana, Cuba. 2017 'ReSignifications: European Blackamoors, Africana Readings.' at Museo Bardini, Villa La Pietra and Galleria Biagiotti, Florence, Italy. 2015 'Africa: See You, See Me' in Beijing and Macau China; Rome and Florence, Italy, Dakar, Senegal and Lagos, Nigeria. 2011-2013 Annual Highlife Music Festival, Accra, Ghana. 2006-2009 Kofi Ghanaba Audi-Visual Archives, Medie-Accra, Ghana 2007-2010

References

External links

* Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Nigerian male film actors Mount Holyoke College faculty New York University faculty Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Ahmadu Bello University alumni {{nigeria-writer-stub