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
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Date
2023-03
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KNUST
Abstract
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.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the
award of Master of philosophy degree in English language