Dr. Padmore Enyonam Agbemabiese

Dr. Padmore Enyonam Agbemabiese is a Ghanaian poet and scholar currently lecturing in the Department of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University. Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese was born in 1965 at Abor in the Volta Region of Ghana. He attended Abor Roman Catholic Primary and Middle School. Later he went to Abor Secondary School for his 'O' Levels, and then to Kpandu Secondary School for his 'A' Levels. All this time, his Grandmother, Madam Afeafa Fiador-Agbemabiese ensured that he acquired literacy in the traditions and customs of the Ewes alongside his formal education in the Catholic school.

He got his first degree in English from the University of Ghana, Legon and his Masters degree in African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University. He also holds additional undergraduate degrees in Theater Arts, Journalism, and Public Relations from the University of Ghana, Legon.

After graduating from the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese worked at various jobs. He taught as a teacher at Sogakope L. A. Middle School, Zion Secondary School at Anloga and Awudome Secondary School at Tsito-Awudome in the Volta Region of Ghana. Later, he became a Journalist with Ghanaian Times Corporation serving as a beatman at Sogakope, Keta, Denu, Abor and Dzodze. He was also a news-reporter for Ghana Radio and TV. He was also a regular contributor-poet for the GBC 2 radio program "Voices of Our Times" hosted by Ms. Gerthrude Opare-Addo for over ten years. However, he was best known for his Ewe poems on Ewe Hakpanyawo a GBC Radio One program hosted by Komivi Adatsi on Saturdays and repeated on Wednesday evenings. In 1985, he assisted a Task Force that initiated the Ghana Tourism '86. Later, he was commissioned by the National Commission on Culture to open Cultural centers at Anlo and Keta districts. His hard work brought cultural programs and offices to Sogakope, Keta, Akatsi and Denu areas. He helped organize the Pan African Historical Festival (PANAFEST) and worked there for a while.

Over the years, the knowledge he acquired through his experience with his Grandma made him to become a renown bilingual poet. As a bilingual poet, he has written and published in both English and Ewe. Some of his poems have been translated into Swahili and Hindu. His Ewe titles include "Senyee Wom Alea" (1996) and "Migblem Di Kpo" (1996), while his English titles include "Prophecy" (1999), "With Guns and Roses" (1999), "Voyages" (2003) and "The Smell of Exile" (in press). He has also published critical essays, short stories and poems in various newspapers and journals including "Essence Magazine", "Come Into Our Whirl", "African Weekender" and "Taj Mahal Review" (India).

Dr. Padmore Enyonam Agbemabiese is the Co-founder of the College of Education International Club, and its Vice President. He is also a member of the National Council of Teachers of English, USA and a member of Ghana National Association of Teachers (Ghana).

Awards

* 2007 Nnamdi Azikiwe Award for Journalism and Scholarship, USA
* 2007 Julius Nyerere Distinguished Humanitarian & Community Development Award, USA
* 2005 The Ohio State University, College of Education—2005 Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award for Teaching and Scholarship
* 2003 HOWARD FRANCIS SEELY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: For Best OSU
* 2002 Golden Pen Award: First Runner-Up: Best Black Poet of the Year 2002 Black Writers Association Conference 2002, Atlanta GA, USA
* 1998 GWEN KAGEY AWARD FOR HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: High Academic Achievement, OSU

Currently, Dr. Padmore Agbemabiese is involved in series of research project. Paramount among them is, THE STUDY OF ANLO-EWE PROVERBS AND APPELLATIONS AS PRINCIPLES OF ARGUMENTATIVE AND PERSUASIVE DISCOURSE.

This project embody an interpretive and theatrical study of aspects of literary traditions created and nurtured by the Ewes of Ghana. The study involves investigation of their mode of existence, their distinctive styles of presentation and their significance as crucial elements of contemporary discourse related to socio-economic and political transformation of the Ewes and Africans at large

References

http://www.poemhunter.com/padmore-enyonam-agbemabiese/

http://aaas.osu.edu/people/person.cfm?ID=1531

http://www.zipedu.com/Grandma.html

www.poetryfeast.com/writing/observation

Persondata
NAME=Agbemabiese, Padmore Enyonam
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Ghanaian poet and academic
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=Ghana
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=