Composer Kwabla Releases Controversial Dum-so

From  Alfred Adams
Email:[email protected]
WhatsApp: 0272542986
BUDDING Choral composer, Witfield Kweku Kwablah and his singing group have released what could be described controversial and interesting choral piece, which has gone viral on social media.

The piece, dubbed 'Dumsor', is the work of the man behind the Witharmonic Chorale group. Though the piece was composed on 17th of December last year, the release of the controversial and interesting Dumsor piece at this critical moment where our country is bedeviled with power challenges has made the piece an interesting one.

The new and fast trending choral Dumsor piece is an original composition for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass (SATB) with piano accompaniment in the key of F major and in simple quadruple meter (4/4).

The piece is seventy four (74) measures long and lasts for approximately two minutes and forty three seconds (2:43). It was composed on the 17th of December, 2015 as an appeal to the Government of Ghana following the erratic power supply (fondly known as “Dumsor”) which had engulfed the country at that time.

The “Dumsor” was first performed by the WitsHarmonic Choir, Gh, during the maiden edition of its annual event (musical concert) dubbed: “The Republic Concert 2016” which was held in Accra and Cape Coast on the 5th and 7th of March, 2016 respectively.

The main focus of the Republic Concert was to promote peace, foster unity, address issues of national concern, entertain and intercede for the nation using music as the medium of communication and became necessary for the inculcation of the controversial “Dumsor” song in its repertoire.

The piece begins with a piano work to introduce it, then as the singers begin to sing the song; power went off, forcing the singers and audience to exclaim 'OOOH'.  Followed next is the lyrics of the Dumsor, where the singers used lyrics to put across the effect and consequence of the dumsor syndrome on both human resource and the state as well.

The music has three sections labelled as: A, B and C respectively. The lyrics try to make a very passionate appeal to the Government of Ghana, by citing three important examples of the woes of the ever poignant dumsor phenomenon.

These include; low productivity on the side of workers, inability of students to study and the rise of robbery cases.

But speaking to The Chronicle Choral page, the man behind the controversial and interesting piece tells this writer he wrote the song as a means of using music to appeal to authorities to address the current dumsor challenge.

Witfield believes music could be used as a force to address issues and not always using Church music to praise God.

'My perception about music since level 200 has changed to the effect that music can be used to address social issues.' Asked if he was surprised the controversial dumsor piece had gone viral on social media, he answered in the affirmative.

In fact when I and my choir performed the piece, we didn't anticipate it will go this viral. In fact, I am surprised the level this piece has reached'.

Witfield, a graduate of music from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), who is credited for the 'Kokonsa' choral piece expressed the hope the lyrics in the piece would compel the authorities to act.

'It is my fervent prayer and hope that the message in my music reaches the very depth of the hearts of all officials in charge of power in this country. We all hope to be relieved of this situation soon'.