‘Prof Nii Yartey was a true patriot’
My journey into the fold of the arts family was influenced by a number of people as a young boy.
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The first on the list was the late Saka Acquaye whom I watched most evenings rehearse his “Obadjen” musical with his group; the late Evans Hunter and Emary Brown who held my hand on the drama trail and Edward Ameyibor who pointed the road for me in journalism.
Then came Nii Yartey who out of the blue with tact and cunning, got me to work with him fulltime for over a decade and even when I managed to slip out of his hands, still got me to work with him on many of his dance projects.
Gem of a man
I owe some of the sharp skills in administration, the discipline and sound work ethics I possess to this gem of a man who decided that I had something to offer the Ghana Dance Ensemble and the University of Ghana.
In 1986, while working as the Public Relations Manager of the Arts Council of Ghana, he approached me to consider joining the Ghana Dance Ensemble, based at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ghana.
According to him, he wanted to have a formidable National Dance Company, like the Guinea Ballet which has made their country popular through dance and constantly rakes in money for the national coffers by performing across the world.
“Moff, we have more dances from our ethnic groups than they have and yet we are not making it as we should. Please join me to push Ghana on the map of the world.”
I told him I would think about it.
I, however, did not even have that luxury of thinking about it and within a month, I was a staff of the Ghana Dance Ensemble. The rest is history.
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We researched dances, ran workshops and participated in dance festivals across the world.
Nii was a genius in every sense of the word and managed to spot talents as soon as he came into contact with them and always managed to mould and include them in his team.
Dance was his life and just editing his articles and papers on dance and its development was enough tutorial for me to understand that performing art.
Epitome of strength
He was the epitome of strength and never seemed to tire. He worked the group like a military set-up, drilling dancers and drummers into sharp disciplined performers who were not allowed to bleach, grow unnecessarily fat or belong to other groups apart from the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Many who complained about the drill, after exiting the company, eventually praised his strict training regime.
The production and administrative staff closed only after he called it a day. Not many people who joined the company lasted long but thankfully, his executive team of Grace Djabaki Djabatey, myself, David Amoo and our secretary, Juliana Hanson, stuck together through thick and thin.
We ate together and watched each other’s back, so to speak. It was not always rosy. There were times when tempers rose purely in the area of work. This happened mostly when there was an upcoming production.
Nii was a perfectionist and wanted everything done to the last detail. It was not always possible and the frustrations and anguish turned into shouts and threats, which normalised after the production.
He could not stand to see anyone moody or out of sorts especially if he felt he was the cause.
We often took advantage of his soft nature to keep him in line and sober during rehearsals for major productions. His ready smile and affable nature was extremely infectious and I am yet to find anyone who does not like him.
A believer in our culture and a true patriot who recognised the need to have a sound foundation for our dance, music and dramatic traditions, he fought and employed Prof. Emeritus Mawere Opoku and Saka Acquaye as resource persons to teach the group.
Autonomy
He did everything to ensure that the National Dance Company was the best in Ghanaian dance. I don’t know if the University of Ghana has forgiven us for moving out with the company to become the resident company of the National Theatre.
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He, together with Dr Mohammad Abdallah, fought for the autonomy of the National Dance and Drama companies to enable them blossom to the fullest.
One of his major concerns, as Chairman of the National Theatre Board, was the plan by the National Theatre to incorporate the national companies, which he believed would lead to the curtailment of their independence, something not won on a silver platter.
The formation of the Noyam Dance Institute was another of his dreams that came into fruition. It has successfully trained young people who have become professional dancers holding their own in Ghana and abroad.
Nii’s creative pieces, which can be classified as classics, were and are still a joy to watch and they would be around for generations to come. Moreover, he trained so many people who would follow his footsteps as his footprints have been imprinted at several places across the world.
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Goodbye
Prof. F. Nii Yartey, our plans remain on hold until we meet again because you have taken the lead too early without even a goodbye. I thank the good Lord for your life, which you lived to the fullest.
My brother, colleague, teacher and friend; farewell…. May you be guided to the right path to the great beyond by the light, which will lead you to the ancestors and into the bosom of your maker, where you will enjoy eternal peace.