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KOKOFU TRADITIONAL MUSIC IN KOKOFU CULTURE By Victoria Bemah B.Ed (Music) A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN AFRICAN ART AND CULTURE Faculty of Art College of Art and Social Sciences May 2009 © 2011, Department of General Art Studies DECLARATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the M.A and that to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the University, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. VICTORIA BEMAH (PG9141506) ……………………. …………………….. Student’s Name & ID No: Signature Date Certified by DR. O. OSEI AGYEMAN …………………….. ……………………. Supervisor’s Name Signature Date Certified by DR JOE ADU-AGYEM ……………………. ………………………… Head of Department’s Name Signature Date ii ABSTRACT Traditional music is the modern name for what used to be called “Folk music”. However the term "Folk music" was expanded to include a lot of non-traditional matter. The music is passed down orally; this is not universal, but there must be a strong tradition of oral transmission. The music derives from, or is related to, a particular people, region or culture and lacks copyright. The problem of this thesis was that, traditional music used to be very active in Kokofu community, and the younger generation has little knowledge about the traditional music in the Kokofu culture. The aim of this study is to identify the various traditional music types found in Kokofu community and discuss the functions of the traditional music in the religious, political, economic and social activities and its importance in the Kokofu culture. To elicit information for the study, 300 people were targeted and sampled. These include chiefs, health workers, teachers, students, children, market women, tailors and seamstresses, bankers and elders in the Kokofu town and its environs. Stratified and purposive sampling techniques were used and instrument for data collection include participation observation, questionnaire and structured interviews. Libraries were consulted to review literature.It was found out that traditional music performed in Kokofu community is indispensable in the political, social, religious and economic life of the people at Kokofu and it is important to the culture, most especially in the area of chieftaincy. It is also recommended that the old folks in the Kokofu community should teach the younger generation to ensure its continuity. In the nutshell, traditional music is important to Kokofu community and the youth must be encouraged and motivated to perform it to ensure its continuity. Though it has suffered because of modern education and some religious beliefs but due to chieftaincy and its activities, it has been able to survive the test of time. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful to the Almighty God for his love, guidance and protection and for making it possible for me to undertake this programme successfully. I wish to extend my gratitude to my supervisor, Dr O. Osei Agyeman, under whose suggestions and guidance this work has become a reality.Again, I am indebted to my lovely husband, Dr Michael Asante for his suggestions and also to my children, Juliet, Yvonne, Priscilla and Michelle for their patience throughout my studies. I also like to thank my parents, Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, chief of Kokofu Traditional Area, and Mrs Agnes Adu-Bobi for providing some of the information on Kokofu history and their support. The same thanks go to the divisional chiefs and elders of the Kokofu palace. To my siblings Kwabena, Kofi and Fremah, thank you for your financial support. Finally, my thanks go to all the authors whose books were consulted and others who helped me in diverse ways to complete my course. May, 2009 V.B. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................................... v LIST OF PLATES ................................................................................................................................. x LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER ONE....................................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................1 1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background to the Study ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Hypothesis.................................................................................................................................. 6 1.6 Delimitations .............................................................................................................................. 6 1.7 Limitations ................................................................................................................................. 6 1.8 Definitions of Terms .................................................................................................................. 7 1.9 Importance of the Study ............................................................................................................. 9 1.10 Organisation of the Study ...................................................................................................... 10 1.11 Ethnographic Background of Kokofu……………………………………………………...10 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................... 14 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ....................................................................................... 14 2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Traditional Music .............................................................................................................. 14 v 2.3 Historical Developments ................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Traditional Music and Religion ......................................................................................... 24 2.5 Organisation of Traditional Music Performance ............................................................... 25 2.6 Vocal Music ....................................................................................................................... 25 2.7 Instrumental Music ............................................................................................................ 27 2.8 Vocal and Instrumental Ensemble ..................................................................................... 27 2.9 Rhythmic Organization in Traditional Music .................................................................... 27 2.10 The Role of Song Text in Traditional Music. .................................................................... 28 2.11 Forms and Structure of Traditional Songs ......................................................................... 29 2.12 Musical Style ..................................................................................................................... 32 2.13 Traditional Music Instruments and their Classification .................................................... 32 2.14 Idiophones ......................................................................................................................... 34 2.15 Membranophones .............................................................................................................. 36 2.16 Mode of Drumming: .......................................................................................................... 38 2.17 Aerophones ........................................................................................................................ 39 2.18 Chordophones .................................................................................................................... 40 2.19 Categories of Traditional Music ........................................................................................ 41 2.20 Occasional Music .............................................................................................................. 41 2.21 Recreational Music ...........................................................................................................