Dr. Samuel Nyamuame from Binghampton University gave a presentation titled, “Traditional Music in Ghanaian Churches: Transformations, Problems, and Recommendations” at the first Baraza of the semester on Friday September 22. Dr. Nyamuame is visiting assistant professor in the departments of music and theatre. He earned his PhD in ethnomusicology at UF where he worked with Agbedidi Africa as well as Pazeni Sauti African Choir.
Dr. Nyamuame’s lecture discussed the importance of traditional music in Ghana, focusing on the Volta region in particular. He discussed four concepts relating to traditional music—the significance of traditional music and missionary attitude, cultural re-awakening and the concept of transformation, problems of performance, and recommendations for compositional techniques and creative processes.
Traditional music includes dancing, singing, drumming, and clapping. It is considered a way of life and is passed down among generations in Ghana. Traditional dance music is thought of as free and open, bringing the community together as a platform for educating and inspiring others. However after the introduction of Christianity in Ghana, missionaries attempted to ban traditional performances and a stigma formed among Christians that traditional practices were primitive. The Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P.) Church of Ghana had a significant role in the cultural re-awakening of traditional dance music. The formation of the Dumedefor Choir within the E.P. Church resulted in them being the first church to use traditional dance music in services. The E.P. Church continued developing the inclusion of traditional dance music in their services, and began fusing western-style cantatas with aspects of traditional performance.
However, as the E.P. Church and others began using traditional dance music, there were criticisms of the new dance performances. Some argued that the mode of performance was contradictory as the use of tunes, melodies, dance gestures, drum text, and drum language often went against Christian teachings present in services. Dr. Nyamuame believes that there is a way to improve the use of traditional dance music in Christian churches, by implementing new drum rhythms and dances that do not contradict the gospel being taught to parishioners. He is helping traditional dance music performers learn how to chose music that matches and reinforces the theme of events where music is being played. He hopes to continue the use of traditional dance music in churches, as the musical heritage of Ghanaians should be celebrated and reinforced within their culture.