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Analytical Pursuit of C.W.K. Mereku's ‘Asomdwee Hen’ Operetta
Get PDFThis article aims to introduce and analyse C.W.K. Mereku’s Asomdwee Hen,
an operetta, which has been the most performed African oriented musical
drama in Ghana. The work which combines drama with music tells the
story of the faith of Christians on the birth of Christ. The article does not
only examine the African musical compositional features but pulls out the
aesthetics of this traditional musical drama through musical analysis and
delves to unearth the relevance of the work in the field of practical African
musical drama composition. It concludes that the potential vivifying catalyst
of the work is seen in the several artistic multicultural vicissitudes of thought,
such as drum patterns, tonality, vocal style and language, submitted to the
musical treatment by the composer. Asomdwee Hen is indeed a fundamental
platform for the creation of African musical drama and pursuit of its aesthetics
ART: The Pivot of Ghanaian Festivals
No full textThis paper examines the roles that art plays in the various aspects of
festival celebrations that occur among various societies in Ghana. The
paper identifies and analyses the prospects in importance of art as a
justification for the celebration of contemporary festivals in Ghana.
In discussing the paper, some attempts have been made to examine
art as a nucleus of culture and how art constitutes the vehicular body
by which traditions are transmitted from generation to generation.
This is based on the fact that the concept of art as reflected in
Ghanaian cultural festivals, revealed what art is and why its infusion
in festival celebrations in Ghana. The authors therefore, argued that
art is a dynamic and adoptable product which has a socio-cultural
heritage component, and that is why art is a major component in the
celebration of festivals and it performs both sacred and secular roles
in the traditional festivals
Symbolic Significance of Enyan Abaasa Asafo Flags
Get PDFImages on Asafo flags are normally allegoric representation of proverbs,
metaphors, maxims and traditions associated with the cultures of the
Akans. This study employed descriptive and analytical methods. An inquiry
discovery, oral interviews and questionnaires were employed to bring to
bear some of the hidden Asafo flags and their philosophical representations.
It was revealed that most of the youths did not associate themselves with
the Asafo groups because of religious beliefs they lack the philosophical
meanings of most of the symbols used in the various Asafo flags. This has
negatively affected the sustenance, promotion, and transmission of Asafo
activities from one generation to another making the youths of today lack
various ethics, cultural values of our societies. It has therefore become
imperative now to explore into the philosophical interpretations of Asafo
flags for documentation and referencing
Bilingual Education with Bilingual Plays: Abdallah's ‘The Witch of Mopti’ as a Model
Get PDFMany African countries that were colonised imbibed the coloniser's language
as their own and used them as their national language. The local languages
have mostly been relegated to domestic communication. There have been
however, recent debates to introduce local languages as national language
and to be used as medium of instruction in schools. This paper contributes to
these debates and proposes the use of drama in the teaching and learning
of local languages. It argues that drama uses dialogue, gestures, movements,
props and can integrate music and dances which are created in context for
selective and appropriate language and culture. Drama becomes even more
potent in aiding the learning of language when it is written in multilingual
dialogue as in the plays of Mohammed Ben Abdallah. The paper employs conceptual analysis to discuss Abdallah's The Witch of Mopti in which he uses bilingual dialogue as a model that could aid the learning of a local language
A Phenomenographic Study of UEW Music Students’ Conceptions of Musicianship Course: A Case of Sophomore Class
Get PDFThe paper was a result of a phenomenographic study which sought to identify a number of conceptions of a Musicianship course among level 200 students pursuing Bachelor of Arts, Music Education, at the University of Education, Winneba in individual interviews of a sample size of 20. The study was premised on the fact that students have diverse understanding of the musicianship course thereby affecting its significance on their general musical practice. These conceptions were grouped into four categories related to the students’ preferred explanations for Musicianship. (a) the ability to play or perform by hearing (b) performing in an ensemble work (c) gaining mastery in reading at sight (d) transcription of musical pitches or sound from audio or video recordings into notation. Using the concept of integrated music learning’ and improvisation as the framework, the findings from this study raised two critical but general issues regarding Musicianship learning. The first of these is the critical role played by students in their everyday practice to acquire the necessary skills for understanding and interpreting concepts in the Musicianship course. A second issue is the tendency for students to extend their understanding and interpretation of concepts in the Musicianship course to actual performance of their major and minor instruments. This study argues that an understanding of the Musicianship phenomenon by students should form an integral component of the teaching of the course, both as points of origin for lesson planning and for the development of curricular materials. It is envisaged that the results of the study facilitate a better understanding of student’s learning of the Musicianship course as part of their training as music educators while it gives further direction to teachers of the course to use the integrated approach to help students acquire the necessary skills in the course
Hydrogeochemical characterization and evolution of groundwater in parts of the Western and Central Regions of Ghana
Get PDFGroundwater serves as a critical resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use across southern Ghana, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. This study evaluates the hydrogeochemical characteristics and suitability of groundwater in parts of the Western and Central Regions, covering Wassa Amenfi East, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Twifo Atti Morkwa, and Assin North districts. Forty-eight groundwater samples were collected during the transition between the rainy and dry seasons in August and analysed for major ions, heavy metals, and key physicochemical parameters. Results showed that while most samples were within WHO limits for parameters such as NO3-, HCO3-, and PO43-, elevated concentrations of EC, TDS, Na+, Cl-, SO42-, F-, and Mn were observed in mining-influenced areas, indicating salinization and contamination risks. Multivariate analysis (PCA and HCA) identified key hydrogeochemical processes including silicate and carbonate weathering, sulfide oxidation, redox transitions, and anthropogenic pollution from agriculture and sanitation. Groundwater facies were predominantly Ca–Mg–Cl–SO?, consistent with mineralized bedrock influence, while samples in recharge zones showed Ca–Mg–HCO? characteristics. Irrigation indices yielded mixed results: although 58% of samples were classified as “Good” to “Permissible” based on Na%, SAR, and PI, all samples exceeded the RSBC threshold, suggesting potential hazards to soil permeability due to excess bicarbonate. Pollution indices revealed localized zones of moderate nitrate contamination and elevated fluoride levels, with 25% of samples exceeding PIG thresholds, especially in areas with intensive land use. These findings underscore the spatial variability and vulnerability of groundwater quality in the region, driven by both geological and anthropogenic factors
Small-Scale Wars in the Northern Parts of Ghana: A Case Study of the Forced Migration during 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba Wars and its Effects on Women
Get PDFThis study is a part of an on-going research project on violence against women in Ghana. It is based on the Ghanaian newspapers’ coverage of the 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba ethnic conflict and small war in the Northern Region of Ghana. Additionally, the study benefits from oral history collected from female victims of the war. Framed as a case study and defined by the 1994 Nanumba-Konkomba ethnic clash, the most violent and tragic to date, the study illustrates that the intermittent ethnic conflicts, their consequent wars, and forced migrations adversely impact women in the region the most. Overall, the principal subject matter of the study, which is the adverse effects of the ethnic wars on women, fills a major gap in the emerging historiography on ethnic conflicts in northern Ghana and contributes to our understanding of gender and wars in postcolonial Africa as a whole
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN SELECTED SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN ACCRA.
No full textThis study explores the impact of biopsychosocial issues on academic performance among Senior High School students in Accra. Recognizing that academic challenges often stem from biological, psychological, and social factors, the research aimed to identify specific problems affecting student performance and how these can be managed. Utilizing a survey method, the study involved 200 students from four different schools, examining their views on the relationship between these biopsychosocial problems and academic outcomes. Findings indicated that drug abuse, particularly of substances like weed and cocaine, significantly contributes to poor academic performance, while stress also detracts from students' success. The study advocates for the employment of counsellors at all educational levels to address these challenges effectively and enhance academic achievement
Equating Two Alternate Forms of Basic Statistics Test Using the Single Group Random Design: An Application of the Traditional Equating Methods
Get PDFMost testing situations in higher education institutions utilise different tests which measure similar or the same psychological construct to safeguard the security of the various test and to improve the validity of scores obtained from the examinations. This requires strategies like developing parallel tests and equating the scores. This paper demonstrates the application of traditional equating methods to equate two alternate forms of Basic Statistics test using the single group random design. Two alternate test forms (Form X and Form Y) were developed by test experts with measurement and statistics background. The development of the test forms was closely guided by the test specification table and item specification blueprint. The tests were administered to 146 students who were sampled through the convenience sampling technique. Half of the sample (n=73) took Form X and the other half were administered Form Y. The findings showed that relatively, the equipercentile equating appeared to produce scores that were similar and also within the range of the Form X scores. Consequently, the equipercentile equating was found to be statistically accurate for equating
Symbolic Representation of Sculpture Artworks at the National Theatre of Ghana
Get PDFThe initial design of the National Theatre of Ghana, created by Chinese and Ghanaian architects, lacked indigenous artwork in spite
of its architectural grandeur and cultural significance. Later, sculptures and other art pieces were integrated to enhance the theatre's cultural representation and highlight Ghanaian heritage. However, there is a gap in understanding the full significance and impact of these artworks on the theatre's cultural landscape, which undermines their potential benefits in cultural preservation, national identity, tourism, and intercultural understanding. This study aimed to explore the contribution of these art pieces to the theatre's cultural representation and their role in Ghanaian heritage. A historical case study design was used to examine the integration of art into the theatre's environment. Purposive sampling selected knowledgeable participants, ensuring rich data collection through semi-structured interviews. Descriptive and narrative approaches provided a comprehensive analysis. Findings indicate that the sculptures and artworks at the National Theatre of Ghana play a crucial role in narrating Ghanaian stories and enhancing cultural representation. These visual narratives reflect the country's rich cultural heritage, offering both locals and visitors a deeper connection to Ghanaian traditions and history. In conclusion, the incorporation of these artworks underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating indigenous artistic traditions as vital components of national identity and cultural heritage. The study highlights the potential of such artworks to foster pride and continuity among Ghanaians. Additionally, it suggests future research and practical applications, such as informing cultural
policy, promoting tourism through the theatre's unique artistic features, and fostering intercultural understanding through the appreciation of Ghanaian art