Beattie Casely-Hayford
Encyclopedia
Beattie Casely-Hayford (June 1922 – August 6, 1989) was a Ghana
ian engineer. He was the first Director of the Ghana Arts Council, a co-founder of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble, and Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
.
Essie and Archibald Casely-Hayford, a lawyer, Gold Coast
nationalist and former Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Ghana
’s First Republic.
Casely-Hayford’s grandparents were Beatrice Madelene (nee Pinnock) and Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford
, a Gold Coast lawyer, author, journalist, educator, politician and Pan Africanist.
, which was then the Gold Coast
, and educated at Forrest Hill House School and Dulwich College
, England
. His education in England was interrupted when he returned to the Gold Coast at the onset of World War II
.
Casely-Hayford fitted himself into a harsh war time life and struggled through several tough self-employed occupations. He extracted coconut oil
to make soap
; ran two garages for repair and spraying of cars.
Race Course; and worked at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
, then Kumasi Institute of Technology, as the Maintenance Officer. Later, he served as the Director and Operations Manager for Ghana Poultry Farm, Nungua
; Director of the Arts Council of Ghana; Director of Ghana Broadcasting Corp's Television division ("GBC TV"); Technical Director of Modern Signs; and then finally settled into private business.
He owned and operated Caselyco Sound Studio, Signals and Controllers, Intek Engineering, and finally Televid Video and Audio.
asked Nana Kobina Nketsiah to have Casely-Hayford start up the Arts Council of Ghana after the British relinquished the then Roger Club, a social club for Accra’s elite that was located on Accra's Atlantic coast.
Casely-Hayford became the first Director of the Ghana Arts Council. He was responsible for bringing to the fore the early concert party groups and plays. He also had the British Council
sponsor drama performances and movies of Shakespeare plays. He also collaborated with the artist and musician Saka Acquaye, who succeeded him as the Director of the Ghana Arts Council.
Saka Acquaye’s plays were also featured at the Accra Arts Centre, including his most important and popular musical -- "The Lost Fishermen". The original “Wulomei
” – a traditional folk music group that Saka Acquaye managed was introduced to a national audience at the Accra Arts Centre.
The master drummer, percussionist and musician Guy Warren (“Kofi Ghanaba”) was prominently featured on several weekends. The classical musician Victor Gbeho
also had the National Orchestra rehearsing and performing at the Accra Arts Centre.
Many foreign cultural exchange shows were also put on at the Accra Arts Centre. For instance, Russian and Chinese troupes performed. The Chinese troupe sang a song in Twi
, the local Ghanaian language.
, his wife Lucille, and band to Ghana. Beatttie helped to arrange a durbar at Achimota School where Louis and Lucille Armstrong and the band members were entertained by Ghanaian cultural dancers and musicians.
The US Information Service ("USIS") often sent performers to Ghana as part of a cultural relations program. The guitarist Charlie Byrd
performed in one of such shows and ended the show with one of Jimi Hendrix
's songs, “Hey Joe
”. Cozy Cole
was another such performer.
Another American resident in Ghana, Dentist Robert Lee, former Lincoln University, Pennsylvania classmate of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
, who relocated with his family to Ghana from the US, taught voice and was also often on stage.
, University of Ghana
, Legon, and together they established the Ghana National Dance Ensemble.
In the early 1960s, Casely-Hayford introduced the "Do Show" a talent show that was open to all through auditions. One of the products of the "Do Show" is the Paris-based singer Bibie Brew.
The Ghanaian teens of the 1960s also had their chance and several Pop music competitions were held at the Arts Centre. Casely-Hayford’s five sons all played guitar in their teens. His oldest son, Ralph, a bassist, and a nephew, Roy, played in one of Ghana’s professional pop bands, “The Saints” and they performed at the Accra Arts Centre.
He was transferred to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
(“GBC”) as the Cultural Liaison Officer under Shirley DuBois. Eventually, he was appointed the Director of GBC. One of the things that he developed for GBC TV News (now GTV News) was the rotating globe that was used for years until computer graphics took over.
He also introduced puppet shows on GBC TV. Some of the puppet shows were based on the popular traditional concert party theatre format.
The traditional guitarist Koo Nimo
had a lasting relationship with Casely-Hayford and shared many recording hours in later years. Casely-Hayford gave several lectures on Ghana’s highlife
music; collaborated with the University of Ghana
Music Professor John Collins
; and served as a founding patron of Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF), an NGO that Prof. John Collins established in 1990 soon after Casely-Hayford's death in 1989.
He had five sons whom he involved in his engineering work and projects.
Beattie Casely-Hayford's son, Pinnock Casely-Hayford, an engineer who worked closely with him, has continued his work in the alternative energy sector, through his company, "Breeze and Windy".
Beattie Casely-Hayford died in his sleep early on Sunday morning, August 6, 1989, at 67 years.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian engineer. He was the first Director of the Ghana Arts Council, a co-founder of the Ghana National Dance Ensemble, and Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Ghana. It is funded by broadcasting television commercials and the levying of a television licence, costing 3,000 GHC ....
.
Family
Beattie Casely-Hayford was the eldest son ofEssie and Archibald Casely-Hayford, a lawyer, Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
nationalist and former Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
’s First Republic.
Casely-Hayford’s grandparents were Beatrice Madelene (nee Pinnock) and Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford
J. E. Casely Hayford
Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford or Ekra-Agiman was a Fante journalist, author, lawyer, educator, and politician who supported pan-African nationalism...
, a Gold Coast lawyer, author, journalist, educator, politician and Pan Africanist.
Early years
Casely-Hayford was born in Sekondi, GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, which was then the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
, and educated at Forrest Hill House School and Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His education in England was interrupted when he returned to the Gold Coast at the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Casely-Hayford fitted himself into a harsh war time life and struggled through several tough self-employed occupations. He extracted coconut oil
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm . Throughout the tropical world, it has provided the primary source of fat in the diets of millions of people for generations. It has various applications in food, medicine, and industry...
to make soap
Soap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
; ran two garages for repair and spraying of cars.
Career
Casely-Hayford trained for a year in England as a Totalisator Technician for the KumasiKumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
Race Course; and worked at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is a university located in Kumasi, Ghana.It is the second public university established in the country. The University has its roots in the plans of the Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I to establish a university in Kumasi as part of his drive...
, then Kumasi Institute of Technology, as the Maintenance Officer. Later, he served as the Director and Operations Manager for Ghana Poultry Farm, Nungua
Nungua
- Transport :It is served by a station on the eastern network of the national railway system. A bridge which was out of service for some time, was repaired in 2009...
; Director of the Arts Council of Ghana; Director of Ghana Broadcasting Corp's Television division ("GBC TV"); Technical Director of Modern Signs; and then finally settled into private business.
He owned and operated Caselyco Sound Studio, Signals and Controllers, Intek Engineering, and finally Televid Video and Audio.
Ghana Arts Council
Casely-Hayford's interests spanned both the Arts and Sciences. Ghana’s former Prime Minister Dr. Kwame NkrumahKwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
asked Nana Kobina Nketsiah to have Casely-Hayford start up the Arts Council of Ghana after the British relinquished the then Roger Club, a social club for Accra’s elite that was located on Accra's Atlantic coast.
Casely-Hayford became the first Director of the Ghana Arts Council. He was responsible for bringing to the fore the early concert party groups and plays. He also had the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
sponsor drama performances and movies of Shakespeare plays. He also collaborated with the artist and musician Saka Acquaye, who succeeded him as the Director of the Ghana Arts Council.
Saka Acquaye’s plays were also featured at the Accra Arts Centre, including his most important and popular musical -- "The Lost Fishermen". The original “Wulomei
Wulomei
Wulomei was founded in 1973 by Nii Tei Ashitey with the encouragement of the dramatist and musician Saka Acquaye. Acquaye managed the band and wrote some of the music.Ashitey had previously been a percussionist for the Tempos led by E.T...
” – a traditional folk music group that Saka Acquaye managed was introduced to a national audience at the Accra Arts Centre.
The master drummer, percussionist and musician Guy Warren (“Kofi Ghanaba”) was prominently featured on several weekends. The classical musician Victor Gbeho
Victor Gbeho
James Victor Gbeho is a prominent Ghanaian lawyer and diplomat who has been President of the ECOWAS Commission since 2010. He was Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001, under President Jerry Rawlings, and he was the Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency from January 2001...
also had the National Orchestra rehearsing and performing at the Accra Arts Centre.
Many foreign cultural exchange shows were also put on at the Accra Arts Centre. For instance, Russian and Chinese troupes performed. The Chinese troupe sang a song in Twi
Twi
Asante, or Ashanti, is one of three literary dialects of the Akan language of southern Ghana, and the prestige dialect of that language. It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti Empire and current subnational Asante Kingdom within Ghana.Along with the Akuapem dialect,...
, the local Ghanaian language.
Louis Armstrong and other American performers
Casely-Hayford was instrumental in the arrangements during the 1956 visit of Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, his wife Lucille, and band to Ghana. Beatttie helped to arrange a durbar at Achimota School where Louis and Lucille Armstrong and the band members were entertained by Ghanaian cultural dancers and musicians.
The US Information Service ("USIS") often sent performers to Ghana as part of a cultural relations program. The guitarist Charlie Byrd
Charlie Byrd
Charlie Lee Byrd was a famous and versatile American guitarist born in Suffolk, Virginia. His earliest and strongest musical influence was Django Reinhardt, the famous gypsy guitarist. Byrd became the American guitarist who best understood and played Brazilian music, especially the Bossa Nova genre...
performed in one of such shows and ended the show with one of Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
's songs, “Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
”. Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole
Cozy Cole was an American jazz drummer who scored a #1 Cashbox magazine hit with the record "Topsy Part 2". "Topsy" peaked at number three on Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at #29 in the UK...
was another such performer.
Another American resident in Ghana, Dentist Robert Lee, former Lincoln University, Pennsylvania classmate of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
, who relocated with his family to Ghana from the US, taught voice and was also often on stage.
Cultural shows and pop competitions
Casely-Hayford collaborated with Prof. Mawure Bertie Opoku of the Institute of African StudiesInstitute of African Studies
The Institute of African Studies on the campus of the University of Ghana at Legon is an interdisciplinary research institute in the humanities and social sciences. It was established by President Kwame Nkrumah in 1962 to encourage African studies....
, University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, Legon, and together they established the Ghana National Dance Ensemble.
In the early 1960s, Casely-Hayford introduced the "Do Show" a talent show that was open to all through auditions. One of the products of the "Do Show" is the Paris-based singer Bibie Brew.
The Ghanaian teens of the 1960s also had their chance and several Pop music competitions were held at the Arts Centre. Casely-Hayford’s five sons all played guitar in their teens. His oldest son, Ralph, a bassist, and a nephew, Roy, played in one of Ghana’s professional pop bands, “The Saints” and they performed at the Accra Arts Centre.
Broadcasting and puppeteering
Casely-Hayford developed and promoted puppets and the craft of puppeteering. In addition to puppet shows at the Arts Centre, he also had the puppeteering team visit schools to give performances.He was transferred to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Ghana. It is funded by broadcasting television commercials and the levying of a television licence, costing 3,000 GHC ....
(“GBC”) as the Cultural Liaison Officer under Shirley DuBois. Eventually, he was appointed the Director of GBC. One of the things that he developed for GBC TV News (now GTV News) was the rotating globe that was used for years until computer graphics took over.
He also introduced puppet shows on GBC TV. Some of the puppet shows were based on the popular traditional concert party theatre format.
Music and literary work
Casely-Hayford was an active member of the Ghana Writer’s Guild and did a lot of work with the renowned poet and writer, Atukwei Okai. He was also a jazz pianist. His father, Archie, was a pianist and a composer and his mother, Essie, also played piano and loved to sing and perform.The traditional guitarist Koo Nimo
Koo Nimo
Koo Nimo is a leading folk musician of Palm wine music or Highlife music from Ghana. Born in the village of Foase, in the Atwima District of Ashanti Region in Ghana,West Africa, he worked in various jobs in science and medical-related field while maintaining his interest in music...
had a lasting relationship with Casely-Hayford and shared many recording hours in later years. Casely-Hayford gave several lectures on Ghana’s highlife
Highlife
Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920...
music; collaborated with the University of Ghana
University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
Music Professor John Collins
John Collins (musician/researcher)
John Collins came to Ghana in 1952 and has been involved in the West African music scene since 1969.- Biography :John Collins is a guitarist, harmonica player and percussionist and has worked, recorded and played with numerous Ghanaian and Nigerian bands; the Jaguar Jokers, Francis Kenya, E.T...
; and served as a founding patron of Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF), an NGO that Prof. John Collins established in 1990 soon after Casely-Hayford's death in 1989.
Engineering work
Casely-Hayford's true passion lay in manufacturing and engineering. Everywhere he lived with his family, he kept his cars outside the garage because he used the garage as an engineering workshop.He had five sons whom he involved in his engineering work and projects.
Alternative energy
Casely-Hayford believed that the solution to Ghana's persistent energy problems lay in alternative energy. The last project that he undertook before he died in 1989 was the installation of alternative energy windmills at Weija, in the western part of the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.Beattie Casely-Hayford's son, Pinnock Casely-Hayford, an engineer who worked closely with him, has continued his work in the alternative energy sector, through his company, "Breeze and Windy".
Social work
From 1986-89, Beattie Casely-Hayford worked with his son Pinnock Casely-Hayford to film the first HIV/AIDS patient at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital's Fevers Ward that was operated by Dr. Neequaye. Later on, Casely-Hayford collaborated with Prof. Kwashi Quartey and Dr. Cecilia Bentsi as they visited and treated many AIDS victims. They traveled as far as Somanya and documented their visits on video as they went along.Final years
Casely-Hayford was a member of the Bahá'í faith from 1973. In 1986, he led a Bahá'í delegation to deliver a Peace message to the Ghana Government led by the then Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.Beattie Casely-Hayford died in his sleep early on Sunday morning, August 6, 1989, at 67 years.