A close-knit farming community in the Ewe-speaking Volta Region, Kopeyia is celebrated for enthusiastically perpetuating the traditions of Ewe culture. Many of its young artisans, artists, and musicians have been able to dedicate their lives to the indigenous culture of their ancestors, thanks to the Dagbe Arts Centre.

 

In this remarkably serene yet dynamic setting, it is here that people of different backgrounds and cultures freely share their stories, values, and customs in an atmosphere of kindness, tolerance, and mutual respect. We know that our African way of life may differ significantly from yours, but it is our pleasure and honor to share ours with you.

 

Since the institute's inception in 1992, musicians, professors, teachers, and students from all over the world, including Jamaica, Italy, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, have participated in Dagbe's teaching and learning programs. Students and professors from the University of North Texas, Bowling Green State University, the University of Tennessee, Berklee College of Music, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Lawrence University as well as high school teachers from other parts of the world, individual musicians, and students from various parts of the world have all participated in our programs.

 

Our visitors are encouraged to learn some of the Ewe words through interaction with the village population. The Kopeyia-Bloomfield School is the second institution of the Dagbe Institute and Arts Centre. This school was also founded by Mr. Godwin Agbeli and Robert Levin, an American tourist from New York, USA, and student of the Dagbe Institute. Most people in the village have natural skills in drumming, dancing, and music. Their expertise is always at the disposal of the students at the institute.