Music in ghana Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Music in ghana - Research Paper Example However, the ethnic groups can be grouped into two due to substantial similarities and their geographical location are southern groups and the northern groups. The south is inhabited by the Gbe and broad Kwa language speaking ethnic groups. The music of this group is highly associated with the social and spiritual functions; the music relies on polyrhythmic patterns, which are produced by drums and bells, as well as strong emphasis that is laid in the harmonized song. The only exception to this rule is the use of the Seperewa harp-lute used by the Akan for praise singing. This, however, is a dying tradition, which routed its origin in the historic influence that arose from the traditions of the Manden empires that lie to the North West (Ham, 2009 p35). From the southern category, two main groups branch out: Ga and Akan ethical music genre and the Ewe music genre. The first group, Ga & Akan, is known for its court music that is complex; it includes the Ga kpanlogo and the Akan atumpan styles plus a large xylophone that is used in asonko music (Nketia,1999 p90). The Ewe music genre has fork styles that are related to music of Togo and Benin. This genre has contributed many popular styles e.g. the agbadza and borborbor. There many other styles of southern Ghana music, which are, sang at festivals (Collins, 2006 p76). The northern region lies in the barely vegetated Sudan and Sahel grassland (Ham, 2009 p57). The music genres in this region is grouped into the larger West African musical umbrella of Sahelian people in this region base all musical compositions to wind, melodic and stringed compositions .they also employ the technique of polyrhythmic composition. As with other groups in west Africa, the traditions of griot praise-singing exists among the various groups (Nketia,1999 p98). Two areas can be identified in the northern category, and these include the north and northeastern, and the upper northwestern Ghana