African Cultures and Traditions

     SYMBOLIC  OF MU SIC IN AFRICA SOCIETIES Ewe Traditional  Dancers In Ghana        Yoruba Traditional Drummers In Nigeria Dagomba Traditional Drummers in Ghana Zaouli Traditional Dancer in Ivory Coast Igbo Traditional Dancers in Nigeria            Music plays a vital role in Africa Societies, It is a social activity in which  everyone  participates. African Music highlights African Values, customs and traditions.         Many events of importance in  Africa Societies are  celebrated by sweet melody of African music, whether  is a marriage ceremony, funeral rites, agricultural activities, national ceremonies, war times or  traditional festivals. Music  serves as a means of communication and it plays an important aspect of Africa societies. In some of the societies in Africa, they have a belief that music can be used for curing the sick, bringing rain, invo...

 In Ghana, Akan ethnic group is the Largest ethnic group in Ghana, making up 47.3% of the population of Ghana (Ghana Statistical Service 2013:61).   Find the list of the Akan ethnic group below: 1.Bono 2. Asante, 3. Adanse 4. Twifo 5. Asen 6. Fante 7. Akuapem 8.Akyem  9.Akwamu 10. Kwahu 11.Sehwi,  11.Awowin,  12. Nzima and   13.Ahanta                             The Akan's Population In Ghana  In Ghana, there are about five to six million Akan's Population. The main constituent kingdoms include, Akwamu, Akyem, Akuapem, and Kwahu; the Anyi cluster of some fifteen kingdoms; Asante (with A Wasa and Ahanta); the Attie cluster of four kingdoms; the Baule cluster of some seven kingdoms; Brong; and the several Fante states. History Of The Akan Ethnic Groups In Ghana Origins of Akan Cultures In Ghana. The ancestors of the Akan people in Ghana did not actually originally occupy...

  Some staple foods of Ewe   People in Ghana The main dishes of this region are "Akple" with okro soup or stew, fufu with palm nut soup,  Abolo  with shrimps and "one man thousand" banku with okro stew or pepper, red-red or beans stew and fried plantains. Ingredients for preparing "Akple" are: * Corn flour. *  Cassava  dough (optional) * Water. * Salt. Akple is a dish popularly eaten by the people of the  Volta  region in Ghana. It is a carbohydrate based food made from corn flour. 1. Heart water to boil. 2. Add the corn flour and stir to mix. 3. Continue to stir until it becomes even and semi-solid. 4. Roll it into balls. "Akple" is often rolled into round balls.   It's normally eaten with okro soup or stew, grounded pepper, light soup, palm nut soup and groundnut soup. It contains a lot of carbohydrates therefore gives the body energy for normal functioning. Akple is enjoyable when eaten hot. It's u...

              EWE PEOPE OF GHANA, TOGO, BENIN AND                             NIGERIA.  Ewe , peoples living in southeastern   Ghana , southern   Benin , and the southern half of   Togo   who speak various   dialects   of Ewe, a language of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family. Ewe unity is based on language and common traditions of origin: their original homeland is traced to   Oyo, in western   Nigeria , which was a major   Yoruba   kingdom. Most Ewe are farmers, corn (maize) and yams being their staple foods. Sea fishing is a full-time occupation in some coastal areas. Spinning, weaving, pottery making, and blacksmithing, as well as trading, are all important. Villages include several patrilineages, in which land ownership and certain political offices are vested; lineage members also share certain spirits and gods. T...

  Music and Poetry in African Traditions Naturally,  singing  is very important to the African society because the melody and rhythm follow the intonation of the song text. The songs are often sung in call-and-response form. In West Africa, a griot is a praise singer or poet who possesses a repository of oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. They must know the traditional songs and must also be able to improvise songs about current events and chance incidents. Music  is a form of communication and it plays a functional role in African society. Songs accompany marriage, birth, rites of passage, hunting and even political activities. Music is often used in different African cultures to ward off evil spirits and to pay respects to good spirits, the dead and ancestors. Although the musical styles and instruments vary from region to region, there are some common forms of musical expression. The most significant instrument in African music is the Africa...