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African Women's Ensemble |
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"In the Olden days in Ghana, it was not the custom for women to drum, but nowadays, women like to drum" This picture was taken at a funeral. (Nketia1968:8)
Among the Anlo-Ewe and many other Ghanaian peoples, drummers have traditionally been men, but recently some women have been drumming. Madam Nukuyi Abotsivia of Anyako was the first female drummer I ever heard play the Anlo-Ewe lead drum, Atsimewu and Atopani (also known as Atumpan in Akan). In the year 1989, I formed the first all women African Ensemble at California Institute of the Arts, and more recently within the Zadonu African Music and Dance Company; a third one is in formation at the UCLA Ethnomusicology department. See the Zadonu Women's Ensemble in performance The video segment below was taken at Togbui Adeladza's funeral in Anloga, Volta Region (summer 1998). Togbui Adeladza II was the 15th Awoamefia (Paramount Chief) of the Anlo traditional area. This group of all female drummers and song leaders came from Klikor, one of the thirty-six towns that forms the traditional Anlo Confederacy. They were there with Kpegisu drumming, an old war dance played to bid Togbui farewell, or as it is said in Anlo, "to send him to our ancestors." - Kobla Ladzekpo |
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