FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM-GHANAIAN ROYAL ARTS AND FOLK EXPRESSIONS

Elmina is a fishing town in the Central region of Ghana. The town was named by the then Portuguese explorers and business people from Europe who discovered the community to be full of natural resources in gold and called it LA MINA.  The name was later corrupted to EL MINA and it has remained to this day. The local name for the same town is EDINA. BAKATUE is the name of the community's vibrant historic festival that symbolizes the opening of the new fishing season for the community.  The festival that is one of the most important ones in Ghana attracts visitors both home and abroad.  It is celebrated on the 1st July of every year. ELMINA BAKATUE FESTIVAL- AN ARTIST IMPRESSION A TEACHER'S IMPRESSIONS  A DOCUMENTARY ON THE BAKATUE FESTIVAL IN ENGLISH A COMMUNITY IMPRESSION IN LOCAL LANGUAGE ANOTHER COMMUNITY IMPRESSION IN LOCAL LANGUAGE ANOTHER COMMUNITY IMPRESSIONS OF THE FESTIVAL IN LOCAL LANGUAGE

One of the important drumming styles in Ghana is the speech mode of drumming also known as the talking drumming or the Talking Drums. In Ghana the premier talking drum is called ATUMPAN. The Atumpan are two twin drums that represent one high tone and the other low tone. They represent the male elder in low tone and the female elder in high tone to signify how our ancestors have been the source of our wisdom today.  ATUMPAN AS A SPEECH DRUM- TALKING DRUMS In playing the Atumpan the master drummer known as "Okyerema"imitates the human speech in Akan proverbs,parables, lore, values and poetry to play appellations and praises to God, the Ancestors, the King, Important Elders and the community as well as dignitaries during ceremonial events. ATUMPAN AS PART OF ADOWA ENSEMBLE The Atumpan as part of the Adowa Ensemble is the master drum that communicates and accentuates the gestures and movements of the dancer or dancers on the floor. He gives cues to the bells t

Asafo  are traditional warrior groups in Akan  culture. The word derives from  sa , meaning war , and  fo , meaning people . The traditional role of the asafo companies was defence of the King and the state. As the result of contact with European colonial powers  on the Gold Coast  (present-day Ghana), the Fante , who inhabit the coastal region, developed an especially complex version of the concept in terms of its social and political organization based on martial principles, and with elaborate traditions of visual art,  including flag banners with figurative scenes. For the purpose of this lesson, we will focus on the Fante Asafo companies based at Cape Coast and other communities in the Central region.  Each asafo company has designated uniform colors that have been historically established identifies these in Cape Coast as: No. 1.  Bentsir  – red No. 2.  Anafo  – blue and white No. 3.  Ntsin  – green No. 4.  Nkum  – yellow No. 5.  Amanful  – wine and black No. 6.  Abrofomb

Dance is an important aspect of the culture of the Ghanaian (African). Dance embodies and articulates the philosophies of the culture, the origin, and serves as a unique symbol of identity. Our increasing interaction with various world cultures has undermined certain aspects of our dance heritage. We incorporate ideas which threaten our indigenous philosophies and symbols of our identities to the detriment of our uniqueness as Ghanaians or Africans. Kete  royal court dance-drumming originates from the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. The term  Kete  simultaneously refers to a specific set of instruments, the music played by those instruments, and the dance performed to that music. Originally existing exclusively within Asante royal court system,  Kete  is now heard at funerals and weddings, as well as royal palace events.  Kete  constitutes one part of the broader Asante dance-drumming repertoire – including  Adowa, Akɔm, Apirede, Fɛntɛmfrɛm, Mpintin, Nnwonkoro, Sikyi,  and othe

Today's lesson is on Adowa, a Royal Ceremonial Music and Dance of the Asante Akans.                     ADOWA MUSIC AND DANCE @ MANHYIA PALACE-KUMASI ADWOA YEBOAH AHAFO ADOWA LITTLE GIRL DANCES @ ASANTEHEMAA'S FUNERAL ADOWA DANCE DEMONSTRATION