Browsing by Author "Nyarko-Takyi, Gertrude"

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    Our Past, Our Guide: A Study of the Performance of Apoↄ Festival Songs of the People of Techiman in the Bono East Region of Ghana
    (KNUST, 2023-03) Nyarko-Takyi, Gertrude
    ABSTRACT This study examined the content of songs performed at traditional festivals in Ghana. The song texts are information source mostly forsaken in the study of traditions and cultures, yet, they hold a significant part of oral history. This paper specifically analyses the song texts of Apoɔ festival songs which is performed by the people of Techiman. Apoɔ song texts are enriched with ethical and moral values. This study examines how these positive values are used to control the behaviour of the indigenes of Techiman. The paper relies on primary data gathered through personal interviews conducted with citizens of Techiman, songs recorded through participant observation and their transcription. The study also examines Apoɔ songs from the perspective of performance drawing on the major theories of Richard Bauman. Some of the findings are that despite the incursion of foreign culture and modern methods of controlling the society, Apoɔ festival songs are still used as a medium for social control in the Techiman Municipality. It is concluded that the society has got its own in-built mechanism for morality. Chiefs and policy makers must therefore work assiduously to help sustain our rich heritage which seems to be diminishing in recent times. Apoɔ festival songs reveal the virtues and vices, as well as project the culture, customs and traditions of the people of Techiman.