FOLKLIFE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM-GHANAIAN ROYAL ARTS AND FOLK EXPRESSIONS

Today's lesson is on Borbor Fantse Afahye of the Mankessim Traditional Area in the Mfantseman District.  Formerly known as the Mankessim Akwambo, the new chief Osagyefo Amanfu Edu and the Queenmother Nana Ama Aminsah renamed it to reflect their own agenda for their traditional roles and for the community to celebrate beyond Mankessim. The climax of the festival is a procession and grand durbar and other activities that takes place the 2nd Saturday in September every year.  The festival's other activities are planned for a week which starts from the first week in September. Here are Impressions:                      THE FOLK MUSIC -HAROLD'S GROUP-THE OBRUMANKOMA ODAPAGYAN AND OSON TRADITIONALS- 2011 MANKESSIM HISTORY 2013 MANKESSIM AKWAMBO 2019 KEY MOMENTS OF THE 2017 FESTIVAL RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE MANKESSIM DRONE SHOOT OF A HOUSE IMPRESSIONS

Today's lesson is on Impressions from the Oguaa Fetu Festival of the Fante traditional communities of Cape Coast in the Central Region with its rich colorful costumes, folklife and cultural expressions. The  Fetu Afahye  is a festival celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of  Cape Coast   Traditional area in the  Central region  of  Ghana .  The festival is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in the month of September.  The festival celebrates the history of the ancient community where  an outbreak of some strange disease killed many. The people prayed to the gods to help them to get rid of the disease. Thus the festival is celebrated to keep the town clean and to prevent another epidemic befalling the people. According to oral traditional records, there was once a plaque that was devastating and as such demanded that the people of Cape Coast call for an intervention from their gods. However, it is believed that the inhabitants of Cape Coast and its environs were

Welcome to Today's lesson.   A close review of some of the videos in the previous lesson reveals that the Akan Royal Entourage is organized into many units or group of court attendants, supporters, families, elders, praise singers and the voice of the King/Chief or the Queen known as Akyeame ( The Linquist)  or the Today's spokesperson. Akyeame are specially groomed individuals selected for hands-on training for many years apprenticing masters till they are officially nominated and approved by the Royal family at the right time after the passing of the incumbent. Since most Chiefs/King don't speak direct to the people ( community) during festivals, court meetings or any special events, the Okyeame becomes the voice of the King/Queen. The Office insignia is the Staff, each of which designed to convey a message, give an advice or show the status or identity of the King/Queen of the community using it.  In most Ghanaian ethnic groups they use animal characterist

The best times to see the beautiful Royal Ceremonial artistic expressions among the Akans of Ghana are during community festivals, coronation, grand durbar for elected officials or funerals. It is at these times that the rich cultural heritage of the Akans of Ghana are proudly displayed.  A closer look at a typical festival will reveal colorful clothes, specially designed crowns, many gold ornaments, chains, special stools, native sandals. rings, royal assistants, musicians, dancers, court spokespersons known locally as Okyeame ( the Linguist) and many court attendants among others. In today's lesson, I am happy to introduce you to impressions of selected events  at the great Manhyia Palace of the great King of the Ashantis of Ghana, Otumfour Osei Tutu.  These events have many cultural significance for the Akans, Ghanaians and Africa in general.  A SPECIAL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION CALLED AKWASIDAE AT THE KING OF ASANTE'S PALACE-NEWS BY U TV GHANA ANOTH

The Akans of Ghana have special chairs and stools for Family Heads ( Ebusuapaninfo) , Elders, Twins ( Ntaafo), Widows, Traditional Priests and Chiefs. Stools in the first place show the identity of the occupant when there is a community gathering. The size and the designs are some of the factors that are used to determine the identity and the status of the occupant.  In a community gathering in most of the rural Ghana or in cultural towns, sitting arrangements are highly structured with spaces reserved for the King, Chiefs, Family Heads and Invited Guests. While Stools are traditionally popular with Chiefs, Queens and Family Heads; the use of special designed folk chairs called ASIPIM are the exclusives of Kings and Chiefs of bigger status. While the Specialized Chairs are mostly kept at the Chief's palace or courts for the King to sit and welcome guests or preside over community meetings, the Stools are lighter and easy to transport or  be carried when the chief

Ghana abounds in many musical expressions.  The Royal court has its unique musical traditions that is exclusive.   Below are the video impressions of some of the expressions. Please note that there are two types of presentations in the videos.  Those that are part of the Royal courts and that of semi professional arts groups that play for fees. FONTONFROM KANAWU DRUMMING AMAMMERESO AGOFOMMA @ MANHYIA PALACE MANHYIA KETE AND FONTONFROM MUSIC FONTONFROM DRUMMING AS PLAYED BY SEMI-PROFESSIONAL ARTS GROUPS FONTONFROM @ ASAFO PALACE OBONU ( THE ACCRA VERSION OF FONTONFROM) FONTONFROM OKYEREMA ASANTE TEACHES HOW TO PLAY FONTONFROM OBONU ( FONTONFROM) AKWASIDAE -ADOWA MUSIC AND DANCE KETE ADABAN HOLY FAMILY CULTURAL TROUPE AYIKOO CULTURAL TROUPE IN KETE KETE DANCER ASANTE NTAHERA

The Akan like every tribal community around the world have special instrumental resources that are used to make music and in many of its cultural expressions.  There are Idiophone, Chordophones, Aerophones and Membranophones ( Professor Nketsea's classification).   There are over 100 musical instruments used by the Akan but the most popular ones are the Membranophones.  Membranophones also known as drums abound in Ghanaian royal cultural music ensembles. There are many types of drums and many made of different sizes and shapes.  In this lesson, our focus will be on Royal Drums and other Royal Instrumental Resources. Ceremonial or Royal Drums are the special drums made specifically to be used exclusively by the royal courts of the traditional community leader -Chiefs and Queenmother. Each Akan community makes music that shows its unique identity, heritage, prowess, economic power and its artistic finesse.    Though many of the Akan communities have Drum/Music En