WS Chronicle

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D.

Trajan “Trey” Baker, 22, is a student in the master’s of architecture program at Hampton University in the School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation. Baker graduated from Simon G. Atkins Academic and Technology High School in Winston-Salem in 2019. 

One of the treasures of the architectural program at Hampton University was the opportunity to attend the 2023 International Urban Design Travel Studio offering to study abroad in Ghana, West Africa. The curriculum-based tour for the third and fourth-year students to study abroad included three city destinations:  Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. Trey and the other scholars spent two weeks in Ghana.

The travel abroad study component of the architectural curriculum operates under the tutelage of Prof. Stanford Britt, FAIA, NOMAC, and Prof. Marci Turner. Accompanied supervision is provided by Dean Joyce Shirazi from the School of Engineering, Architecture and Aviation. The head of the department of architecture at Hampton University is Dr. Daya Irene Taylor.

Hampton University students were in Ghana along with students from various architectural programs. This study abroad program offers “a unique opportunity for our students to engage in a rich learning experience internationally,” according to the program bulletin. “The academic program focuses on analysis, documentation, and observational sketching in a variety of urban settings. 

Baker and the other scholars toured the Ghana Historical Museum where they acquired additional knowledge about the history of Ghana. They also visited the W. E. B. Du Bois Memorial Campus, where they visited his home and learned about his role in the liberation of African American people and his willingness to become a citizen of Ghana, as well as an expatriate, once the United States returned his passport. At the age of 90, DuBois relocated to Ghana and remained there until the close of his life.

The scholars also visited the historic Jamestown area in Accra, a district established by the British in 1673. In this area, the British held the African people, tortured them and shipped them off in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. They observed many historical buildings that are now used for new purposes. For example, the Jamestown Community Center has a boxing gym and theater. 

Another feature of the visit was the Ghana Institute of Architect’s Office where they met other architects in practice. They also traveled to the Elmina Castle where the slaves were broken and dehumanized and held in dungeons before becoming enslaved. In Kumasi, Ghana, they traveled to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). They met fifth-year students who were defending their thesis projects.

At the Ghana Historical Museum, Trey Baker met a Ghanaian artist, Akwesi Sarkodie, who was selling his artwork outside of the museum. Baker was commissioned to do a work of art centered on Exodus 3:1-15 one month prior to leaving for Ghana. This passage centers on Moses at the Burning Bush. The person who commissioned the artwork was Joe Smith, a worker at the Hampton University physical plant. Smith plans to hang the artwork up in his living room.

The burning bush is a powerful symbol of God’s omnipresence. God is faithful to find us even if we do not know where to find Him or if we don’t even think to look for Him. In this story, God manifests himself through a burning bush that is never consumed. God chooses how He will make his presence known to us. The painting shows how Moses has removed his shoes as God has commanded him to do so. God reminds Moses that the land he stands upon is holy ground.

When Baker saw Sarkodie outside of the museum, along with so many other vendors, he felt comfortable approaching him about the project he had been commissioned to complete just before he left the United States to come to Ghana.

“We struck up a conversation outside of the history museum in Accra City. I told him I was an artist as well and really wanted to paint a piece while I was in Ghana,” said Baker. “He said he would visit the hotel where my class was staying and we could paint at the poolside outdoors. He brought all of the printing materials and canvas with him since I did not have any materials with me.”

The idea for producing this work of art came from Joe Smith, a client of Baker’s who works at the Hampton University physical plant.

“I held off working on this painting until I traveled. I knew Africa would be a great setting to do the art in. This was my first time in the Motherland,” said Baker. “This was an amazing opportunity to connect with another artist and a native to Ghana. Akwesi is a talented artist, so I learned a lot from working together on that single afternoon,” said Baker. “He brought his signature style to the canvas, which included African cheetah-print fabric, and I added my personal style.”

Traveling to Africa made Baker’s learning experience more enjoyable and more valuable.

“When I went to Africa, I felt very grounded. Visiting the Motherland allowed me to gain a new perspective on the world and our people,” said Baker. I highly value traveling experiences.”

Baker will graduate from Hampton in May of 2024, and he already has plans for his career.

“I plan to obtain my license in architecture shortly after graduation. I will need to take the Architecture Registration Examination (ARE). During this time, I will be working at an architecture/construction firm gaining experience in project management and design tools,” said Baker. “Once I have my license, I plan to explore entrepreneurship opportunities in real estate development as an architect. During all of this, I will be incorporating the artistic flavor.”