High priest of the Yewe Cult
Alorwoyie is from Anlo-Afiadenyigba in the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa
and is highly regarded as one of Ghana's foremost virtuosos of traditional
music and dance. He is associate professor of music, principal dancer/choreographer
and Director of the UNT African Percussion Ensemble. Alorwoyie joined the
College of Music faculty in 1996.
He was discovered by Phillip Gbeho, then head of the Institute of Art and
Culture in Ghana at Hogbetsotso and annual Anlo-traditional cultural festival.
Gbeho was so impressed with young Gideon that he offered him a position
at the Institute of Art and Culture in 1964. From 1967-84, Alorwoyie worked
in the Department of African Studies at the University of Ghana as chief
master drummer of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble. Here he acquired the
ability to perform music from different cultures. He toured France, the
United Kingdom, West Germany, Switzerland, the former USSR, Yugoslavia,
the Caribbean, Seoul Korea, and the United States as a member of the Ghana
National Dance Ensemble. Alorwoyie is the founder and the Artistic Director
of the Afrikania Cultural Troupe of Ghana, West Africa, member of the Ethnomusicology
Association, and member of the Council of Elders, Dance Africa Chicago.
Alorwoyie has worked with notable scholars and composers such as David Locke,
John Chernoff, and Steve Reich. He held positions at the State University of New York, College at Brockport, the American Conservatory
of Music and at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago before joining
the University of North Texas faculty. He is the founder and artistic director
of the Chicago-based African-American Unity Ensemble and a member of the
advisory council of the African Music Caucus and Percussive Arts Society.
His recent projects have included performances at the Ghana Fest in Chicago,
master classes in the Ritual Music of Ghana, West Africa at the New England
Conservatory in Boston and performances at the inauguration of CEANA in
Atlanta. He currently holds the position of master drummer and artistic
director of the UNT African Percussion Ensemble.
Torgbui Gideon Foli Alorwoyie is a wonderful musician, a superb dancer and
has command of a vast repertoire. He is a virtuoso instrumentalist who has
expanded the range of traditional African drumming and possesses extraordinary
control of tonal inflection over a wide dynamic range. When he performs,
one senses his total command of the medium.
Professor Midawo Gideon Foli Alorwoyie has been recently installed as Paramount Chief at Tsiyinu-Afegame/Afife, traditional area in the Volta Region of Ghana,
West Aftrica, under the stool name of Torgbui Foli Ameanyo III, (Dufia of
Tsiyinu/Afife). The event took place on Saturday March 13, 2004.