Testing Musical Traditions: for social and human development amongst the Ga people in South-East Ghana

Abstract

This article explores the role of several genres of performance arts that were developed or adopted and maintained by the Ga people in Greater Accra in South- East Ghana. The purpose of these genres is to create solidarity, enhancing personal and group identity and assist in collective problem identification, decision making, and conflict resolution. The genres explored here are some of the traditional tools that have been used for centuries in Ga communities for self-help and social and human development. They have provided a platform to create debate and discussion, modify behaviour, expose injustice and celebrate success. The selection of these musical genres was the result of ethnographic interviews, observations, and insights from ethnomusicology literature carried out prior to the field-research here.