About Ghana Music, Dance and Song

“Ghana without music is like a book without words.”

In Ghanaian society, music, dance and singing permeate the very soul of the people. The powerful forces of music, dance and song are indispensable elements in fulfilling social and religious rites. Not only are musical instruments used as objects for making music, they are also vehicles to communicate with man and the divine.

General Information

“If an award were given for the country with the friendliest people in West Africa, Ghana would probably win. “ (Lonely Planet – West Africa)

The Republic of Ghana has a population of 19.7 million. The capital, Accra, is located on the coast and has a population of 1.7 million. There are many different tribes in Ghana, including Akan (44%), Mole-Dagbane (16%), Ewe (13%) and Ga (8%). Whilst English is the official language, 60+ tribal languages are spoken in Ghana, including Akan, Ewe and Ga. Ghana has a Christian majority (60%). Other religions include Islam (15%) and traditional African religions (25%). The currency of Ghana is the ‘cedi’, and the major industries are mining, lumber, cocoa and light manufacturing.

Brief History of Ghana

There is evidence of settlements along the Ghanaian coast dating back 30,000 to 40,000 years, but most history books detail the history of Ghana from the 15th century.

On March 6, 1957, the people of the colony known as the Gold Coast broke free of European rule. The British had ruled since 1874. Under a new name, Ghana, the territory became the first black African colony to take its place as an independent, modern nation. However, Ghana had a long struggle to reach that goal.

In the late 15th century the Portuguese arrived in search of gold. They found what they came looking for and in 1482 began building forts along the coast. The real wealth, however, turned out to be in slaves. The Dutch, British and Danes came to Ghana in the late 16th century. During the next 250 years all four nations competed fiercely for this trade, building forts and capturing those of their rivals. The average yearly ’take’ in slaves was 10,000. When it all ended in the 19th century 76 forts were left along the Gold Coast, an average of one every six km.

After slavery was outlawed the British took over the forts to use as customs posts along the coast, and they signed treaties with many of the coastal chiefs. They also stayed to make sure that no one revived the slave trade. The British set out to make the Gold Coast a showcase. It was to be an African country not dominated by foreigners. They allowed few Europeans to settle or even work there. By WWI cocoa, gold and timber made the Gold Coast the most prosperous colony in Africa. It also had the best schools and the best civil service in Africa.

When independence was granted in 1957 Kwame Nkrumah became the new leader. Whilst independence was a momentous occasion, for Ghana it was the beginning of economic decline. Nkrumah had great visions but he borrowed heavily to finance grandiose schemes.

By 1964 there were food shortages for the first time ever. In 1966 the military staged a coup. Between 1966 and 1981 Ghana suffered through six governments, all corrupt or incompetent, except for one, which lasted three months.

In 1981 Flight lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings came to power after staging his second military coup. Rawlings was instrumental in Ghana’s economic recovery and remained in power until 2001, when he voluntarily stepped down. Professor John Kufuor is Ghana’s current president.

Present day Ghana is one of the most politically and economically stable countries in West Africa. Ghana’s attractions are many – a vibrant culture, old coastal forts, secluded beaches, national parks and innately friendly people. Ghana offers a truly unique experience.