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13 Mar 06 - 11:16 AM (#1692063) Subject: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: greg stephens Well, we now have a Mudcatter from Ghana who's come aboard. So 'll start a Ghana music topic. Now, I don't know a lot about it, and this will show my age, but my most absolute favourite muscian from Ghana is E.T.Mensah. The legendary highlife dance musician, I would guess from the 50's and 60's. Fabulous melodic dance music, very influenced by Brazilian music, which I understand he picked up in his youth via shortwave radio, Ghana being close enough to Brazil(the naroow bit of the Atlantic). So, Quarcoo, tell us about more modern Ghanaian music that we should be listening to. |
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13 Mar 06 - 11:57 AM (#1692108) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: katlaughing Good idea, Greg, thanks. I look forward to learning much more about Ghanian music. I don't know much except that I love what I hear on Putamyo recordings and hober radio as well as the occasional piece on community radio. I found Koo Nimo in a google search on Ghana folk music. I didn't see any sound clips, but will look for them elsewhere. Quarcoo, I would love to hear what you have to say about him. Thanks! kat |
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13 Mar 06 - 12:02 PM (#1692119) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: katlaughing Soundclips of Koo Nimo and other Ghanian folk music on this page, though my realplayer isn'g working, so I haven't heard them, yet. |
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13 Mar 06 - 12:33 PM (#1692155) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Azizi In the late 1960s, I was introduced to West African music through tapes and records by Nigeria percussionist, Oluntunji. I confess that I don't know any Ghanaian musicians/vocalist or don't know that I know them {since I have a number of compilation CDs of West African music. Like kat, I also did a google search and found this website: http://www.ghanamusic.com/ On one of the pages in that site, I found this listing of music genres: Gospel Highlife Hiplife Reggae/Raglife Traditional/Folkore -snip- I've heard of the dance music "Highlife". And I'm guessing that that "Hiplife" is like American "Hip-hop" music, and "Raglife" is like Jamaican "Ragga" {Raggamuffin} music which I believe is more "rauchy" form of dancehall Reggae. I look forward to receiving some input regarding these musical genres {and others?} from Quarcoo's experiences orr from Internet and other sources that he may share with us. |
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13 Mar 06 - 12:39 PM (#1692159) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: katlaughing Thansk for the links, Azizi. I downloaded a new version of reaplyer. Really enjoyed the Koo Nimo clip, but REALLY liked the "Kewale Sounds" clip just next to his on the same page above. |
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13 Mar 06 - 12:45 PM (#1692162) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: greg stephens Highlife is a kind of music long before hip-hop. 1950's I think at a guess. There are some "Latin"type elements in it: as I mentioned before, it is an early kind of "Mid-Atlantic" fusion, where black music went to Brazil via slavery, helped the development of Brazilisn dance music, and then returned via radio and records and influenced the development of west african dance music. The saxes and brass are handled in quite a Latin way, and the guiras and percussion have elements of African and Brazilian in them, mixed. Very exciting stuff. ET Mensah is the famous guy(or at least the one whose reputation travelled to England most successfully): but I'm hoping Quarcoo will turn up and enlighten us about who is the state of the art Ghanaian performer now. |
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14 Mar 06 - 10:33 AM (#1693165) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Janie Azizi, Oluntunji was my introduction to west African music also. We thought we were going to a jazz concert. We were absolutely blown away by the music and dance. It eventually led to us making and selling ashikos and djun-djuns, my husband and son started drumming with Kahlid Saleem and I started taking African dance at Duke University. Many of the drummers and dancers (most were with the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble) spent extended periods during summer in assorted African countries, including Ghana, learning the traditional music, songs and dance. The dance instructor always made sure we understood the meaning and significance of the songs and dance. Most, but not all the songs were 'call and answer.' It was quite a wonderful experience. Janie |
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14 Mar 06 - 12:28 PM (#1693336) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Azizi Janie, I never had the pleasure of seeing Oluntunji in person. Lucky you!! However, I believe that I have seen the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble. For those interested in knowing more about Babatunde Oluntunj, here is a review of his classic recording: Drums of Passion |
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14 Mar 06 - 01:54 PM (#1693426) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Skivee Azizi. I comepletely agree about Baba. He was a god of percussion. His earlier recording stands up after decades of play. His explanations of the spiritual/ folkloric basis for various drumming patterns was fascinating. There is a musician in the DC area, Nana Frimpong, who does Ghanaan music... Nana from Ghana. A whacky guy, and fun to listen to. |
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20 Jun 11 - 05:49 PM (#3173539) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Mooh Thought I'd give this zombie thread a bump. One of my kids is working in Ghana for the summer and we're hearing lots of cultural details. I'm interested in any 'Catter experience with the music of Ghana. Anyone? Peace, Mooh. |
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20 Jun 11 - 11:31 PM (#3173648) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: katlaughing Kewl, Mooh. Nice to *see* you.:-) |
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21 Jun 11 - 03:15 AM (#3173693) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: melodeonboy Not 'alf! |
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21 Jun 11 - 02:04 PM (#3174012) Subject: RE: Music from Ghana(anyone like it?) From: Mooh Kat...nice to be *seen* by you! There are a number of websites like afropop and ghanamusic but I was hoping some 'Catter might have personal experiences to relate. This place has some interesting folk wandering by. Oh how I wish I could go there myself now. Peace, Mooh. |