African Drum and Dance is a popular area event in many parts of the world. Many of the drummers and dancers who frequent these different events are visiting drummers from Africa. It is interesting that most of the rhythms used at these events are derived from Ghana music whether authentic musicians are present or otherwise. In some areas, there are weekend seminars and workshop related solely to Ghanian drum and dance found in Ghana and other regions of Africa.
Musical taste vary among the people of the country. It is for this reason that all genres of music are generally available for purchase at stores or through a website. Sahelian features a combination of string instruments and melodies and is popular in all areas. Whether it is the kologo lute, gongey fiddle, the many wind instruments or the vocals accompanying same, it is a style that is as appropriate for dance as meditation.
Notes flow almost effortlessly thanks to the chromatic and pentatonic scales used in Northern and Southern Ghana. Chanting, praise-singing and story telling are all essential to the people and identity of these areas. Whereas, other areas are more prone to rhythmic beats surrounding by the softness of strings and at times, voice.
Set to a chromatic and pentatonic scale, melody plays a major role in different arrangements. Vocal styles are also an important element. One reason why the praise singing and griot traditions remain alive and well in the region.
Coastal styles are often associated with social functions. These style rhythms rely on complex patterns played on bells and drums. Like many other parts of Africa, there is also a strong correlation between drum and dance. One of the most popular attractions at many festivals and shows in the United States and around the world are that of African drummers and dancers from Ghana.
Religion in the area is also associated with coastal tunes. With one exception, the music is of a chanting, storytelling or vocal accompanied by harp-lute which is a derivative of the stringed harp. The most well known drums in the region are of that of the adowa and kete with bells. While this music may be associated with different religions, it should be noted it is the religion that sought out the religion and not vice versa.
It was only in 1957 that Ghana won her independence. As a result, while always popular, music in the region has gone through several changes. For the most part, the two most popular forms of music are dance pop and Highlife. A newer version of HipLife has also now become quite popular as is the case with hip-hop in other areas of the world.
Highlife, or High-life is a combination of soukous, jazz, rock, ska and swing. Both of which are more dance focused than styles which were popular in the earlier days of the country. Hip-Life and Highlife can be thought of as similar to the dance, rock and jazz genres alive and well in other parts of the world.
During the depression and years following, the clubs stayed fairly active and hopping. The popular years for electric guitar and dance-pop were mostly in the 70s. At least that is the case until German-Highlife took over with Burger-Highlife and other forms which are still popular. The Burger-Highlife, Dance Pop and German-Highlife are often some of the most influential and listened to music in and outside Ghana.
Musical taste vary among the people of the country. It is for this reason that all genres of music are generally available for purchase at stores or through a website. Sahelian features a combination of string instruments and melodies and is popular in all areas. Whether it is the kologo lute, gongey fiddle, the many wind instruments or the vocals accompanying same, it is a style that is as appropriate for dance as meditation.
Notes flow almost effortlessly thanks to the chromatic and pentatonic scales used in Northern and Southern Ghana. Chanting, praise-singing and story telling are all essential to the people and identity of these areas. Whereas, other areas are more prone to rhythmic beats surrounding by the softness of strings and at times, voice.
Set to a chromatic and pentatonic scale, melody plays a major role in different arrangements. Vocal styles are also an important element. One reason why the praise singing and griot traditions remain alive and well in the region.
Coastal styles are often associated with social functions. These style rhythms rely on complex patterns played on bells and drums. Like many other parts of Africa, there is also a strong correlation between drum and dance. One of the most popular attractions at many festivals and shows in the United States and around the world are that of African drummers and dancers from Ghana.
Religion in the area is also associated with coastal tunes. With one exception, the music is of a chanting, storytelling or vocal accompanied by harp-lute which is a derivative of the stringed harp. The most well known drums in the region are of that of the adowa and kete with bells. While this music may be associated with different religions, it should be noted it is the religion that sought out the religion and not vice versa.
It was only in 1957 that Ghana won her independence. As a result, while always popular, music in the region has gone through several changes. For the most part, the two most popular forms of music are dance pop and Highlife. A newer version of HipLife has also now become quite popular as is the case with hip-hop in other areas of the world.
Highlife, or High-life is a combination of soukous, jazz, rock, ska and swing. Both of which are more dance focused than styles which were popular in the earlier days of the country. Hip-Life and Highlife can be thought of as similar to the dance, rock and jazz genres alive and well in other parts of the world.
During the depression and years following, the clubs stayed fairly active and hopping. The popular years for electric guitar and dance-pop were mostly in the 70s. At least that is the case until German-Highlife took over with Burger-Highlife and other forms which are still popular. The Burger-Highlife, Dance Pop and German-Highlife are often some of the most influential and listened to music in and outside Ghana.
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