Ghana Day Of Percussion 2013 Held In Ghana

The Ghana chapter of the world famous music service organization, the Percussive Arts Society with the global headquarters in the USA has held its annual Days of Percussion in three communities in Ghana in the months of August and September. The DOP 2013 events were dubbed Kpanlogo for Peace in Accra, Oguaa Day of Percussion at Cape Coast and Nananom for Peace at Kenyase-Kumasi.

These special percussion events were incorporated into community festivals to help create awareness of the quality services offered by the parent organization, the Percussive Arts Society and its local affiliates community service in arts in education and entertainment education in Ghana. They were also events organized for membership drive, introduction of the community to variety of Ghanaian folk and contemporary percussion culture and the importance of the arts in the country.

The first of the Ghana's DOP was the Accra's Kpanlogo for Peace festival that was started at Krokrobite township on the 3rd Tuesday in the month of August, 2013 and ended at Gbese's Mantse's grounds on the next day. The featured groups were Jamestown Kpanlogo Association, Nii Ayi Bontei Fontonfrom group, Twii Bleoo Asafo, Krokrobite Wulomo Drummers and Africussion Drum and Dance Ensemble. In attendance were the chief of Gbese, Nii Ayi Bontei and other important chiefs in the Gbese Traditional Council. Speaking at the event that was also the culminating one for the area's Homowo festival, the chief called on the community to be tolerant of divergent views, respect individual rights, stop domestic abuse and for the people to keep their environments safe and clean. Many dignitaries also spoke and commended the Ghana chapter of the PAS for the collaboration and the successful support to a community program and making themes relevant to national issues.

The second DOP event dubbed Oguaa Day of Percussion was incorporated into the Oguaa Fetu Afahye during which members of the PAS advertised themselves as part of the procession with a brass band. The Fetu Afahye is the annual festival of the people of Cape Coast (Oguaa Traditional Area). The origin of Fetu Afahye dates back to the Fetu Kingdom of the 17th century. The climax is observed on the first Saturday of September of every year. The 'Afahye' has its spiritual, cultural and social significance. Spiritually, it is a time for pouring libation to the 77 gods for the harvests from the earth and the sea; a period of spiritual renewal for the community; and a period for the renovation for the shrines. Culturally, however, it is a period for exposition and outdooring of all traditional / social organizations. Thus, the Asafo companies, seven in all, in their multitude of colourful costumes, trooped through the streets of Oguaa, with their flag bearers known as Frankatufo and Asafohenfo (battalion commanders). Drumming and dancing and contorting to intricate drum rhythms were the order of the day. The procession started at the Mfantsepim School and ended at the Victoria Park where a grand durbar was held. In attendance were the Vice President of Ghana Dr. Kwesi Aminsah Arthur, the regional minister, other sector ministers, traditional chiefs from the Central region, foreign dignitaries and the media.

The goal of the participation by the PAS Ghana was to use the occasion to create awareness about the PAS Ghana. In an interview with a local based radio media, Mr. Harold Akyeampong, the President spoke about the PAS and its global music service projects in percussion research, preservation, promotion and education. He also spoke about membership drive and invited interested percussionists in the community to become members.

The third Ghana DOP event was at Kenyase, a suburb near Kumasi at a special Akan religious event. The program that attracted many Traditional chiefs, priests, ministers and community members was dubbed Nananom for Peace. The theme was Culture, Music and Community Healing and Peace. The program was chaired by Nana Kudi, special cultural consultant and master healer. In his speech, he thanked the PAS Ghana for organizing such an event to bring all the community spiritualists and healers to take a critical look at the culture, its percussion traditions, healing and its impact on peace in the community.

Mr. William Klutse, an executive of the PAS Ghana and the director of NCCE Adansi South district educated the community about religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and community security. He also educated the healers on abuse of mental patients and called for reasonable ways of dispensing medicine and healing.

On her part, Nana Maanu, a Nana Asuo Gyebi Komfo spoke about domestic violence and appealed to the government to enforce laws that takes care of violators. Mr. Harold Akyeampong during an afternoon workshop educated the Nananom to use their expertise well to support the socio-economic development of the nation. He said their roles as complimentary and alternative medical healers cannot be belittled as some people seem to suggest and that their holistic health approaches are part of the important health care delivery system in Ghana. He therefore, said they need to study well, equip themselves with many professional developments, networks and to take their music traditions seriously since it is such that makes the paranormal healing manifest qualitatively.

Ms. Ernestina Biney, an executive of PAS thanked all the invited guests, the community, the PAS members who were there and other performing groups for a successful DOP event.