UCC Scholar Receives Prestigious National Humanities Center Fellowship Award

An Associate Professor at the Department of Music and Dance of the University of Cape Coast(UCC), Prof. Eric Debrah Otchere, has been selected as a Fellow of the prestigious National Humanities Center for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Prof. Otchere earned the highly competitive fellowship for his groundbreaking research project titled, “From Nets to Notes: A Multi-Modal Analysis of Knowledge Translation in Ghanaian Artisanal Fishing Communities.” His work explores the intersection of music, culture, indigenous knowledge systems, and artisanal fishing practices in Ghanaian coastal communities.

The National Humanities Center, which is based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, announced the appointment of twenty-nine Fellows for the 2026–2027 academic year from a pool of 453 applicants worldwide. The selected scholars represent a broad range of disciplines, including African studies, anthropology, archaeology, ethnomusicology, history, philosophy, literature, and musicology.

Prof. Otchere was recognised under the field of Music History and Musicology, further highlighting the growing global recognition of research excellence at the University of Cape Coast.

The Fellows will undertake individual research projects while participating in seminars, lectures, and conferences organised by the Center. The fellowship programme provides scholars with the opportunity to pursue advanced research free from regular academic responsibilities.

Established in 1978, the National Humanities Center is one of the world’s leading institutes for advanced study in the humanities. The 2026–2027 Fellows constitute the forty-ninth class of resident scholars admitted to the Center.

According to the Vice President for Scholarly Programs at the Center, Martha Kelly, the selected projects reflect some of the most impactful and innovative work being undertaken in the humanities today. She noted that the Fellows’ diverse scholarly interests would contribute significantly to the vibrant intellectual community for which the Center is renowned.

The Center will award more than $1.6 million in fellowship grants to support the scholars during the fellowship period. Funding for the programme is drawn from the Center’s endowment, grants from the Henry Luce Foundation, and contributions from alumni and friends of the institution.