John Collins: following African rhythms for 40 years
Born in England, came here at 7 or 8 years old with father Edmund Collins who was setting up the Philosophy Dept at Accra University. He did his schooling in England and a science degree, and returned to join his father in 1969. After a degree in sociology and archaeology at the University of Ghana he was already a guitarist in jazz, blues rock bands in the UK.
He describes himself as a socialist and says his views have changed a lot simply by living in Africa: ‘the West is destroying developing nations and hides it with talk about human rights’.
He did the first BBC World Service broadcast on African popular music in 1978, toured Scandinavia and the US teaching drumming, African popular guitar and musical history: ‘freed slaves brought Samba and Calypso to Ghana’.
After publishing 5 books, he was invited to do a PhD at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and then became a professor at the University of Accra.
Our conversation moves across topics, as John’s lively mind follows his thoughts.
The conversation can be accessed here, published in The Prisma Multicultural Newspaper on Aug. 10th 2013
https://theprisma.co.uk/2013/08/10/john-collins-40-years-living-and-breathing-african-rhythms/