Ghanaian English
Definition: English spoken in Ghana: a variety of English spoken in Ghana
Ghanaian English is the English language as used in Ghana (population 20 million), the largest English-speaking nation in West Africa after Nigeria. Local contact with the language dates from 1631. Standard English is the official language, West African Pidgin English is widespread, and indigenous languages include Ashanti, Ewe, Fanti, and Ga, all of which have an influence on English usage, especially in vocabulary. Ghanaians strongly resist the idea of a distinctive Ghanaian English, and although standard and pidgin shade into one another, many seek to maintain a sharp line between them. In local usage "r" in such words as art, door, worker. Usage includes expressions adopted from local languages, often as the first element in compounds, as in the terms bodom beads, kente cloth, and in localisms such as an airtight "a metal box," an outdooring "a christening ceremony," and to enskin "to enthrone a chief by draping him in an animal skin."
2010년 5월 22일 토요일
2010년 5월 21일 금요일
Post Four
Music of Ghana
Ghana has many types of traditional and modern music. The sound varies from ethnic group to ethnic group and region to region. Ghanaian music incorporates several distinct types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, goje fiddle and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan atumpan, the Ga kpanlogo styles, and log xylophones used in asonko music. The most well known genres to have come from Ghana are Afro-jazz which was created by Ghanaian artist Kofi Ghanaba.[42] and its earlist form of secular music is called Highlife.
Highlife originated in the late 1800 and early 1900s and spread throughout West Africa mainly Sierra Leone and Nigeria. In the 1990’s a new genre of music was created by the youth incorporating the influences of Highlife Afro-reggae, Dancehall and Hiphop. This hybrid was called Hiplife. Ghanaian artists such as R&B and Soul singer Rhian Benson and Highlife singer Kojo Antwi have had international success.
Axatse
Ghanaian drummers
Dance of Ghana
Ghanaian dance is as diverse as its music. Each ethnic group has their own traditional dances and there are different dances for different occasions. There are dances for funerals, celebrations, storytelling, praise and worship etc. Some of these dances include
Bamaya It is performed by the Northern people of Ghana. It narrates the legend of a time of great drought. An oracle told the people that the drought was brought about by the manner in which the men were severely repressing and demeaning the women. It further stated that the drought would be relieved only when the men lowered themselves to the role they were imposing on the women by putting on skirts and participating in this dance. When the men did this it began to rain. It is currently performed during harvest time in northwestern Ghana by both Dagbani men and women.
Adowa A dance of the Ashanti peoples of Ghana. This dance is especially noted for the grace and complexity of the dancers' movements. The drumming is also noted for the complexity of the interlocking rhythms and the two atumpan drums which are used as the lead or master drum. Originally funeral dance music, Adowa is now also performed at annual festivals and social gatherings.
Kpanlongo Is performed by the Ga people of Ghana. It is often referred to as "the dance of the youth," Kpanlongo started during the wake of Ghana’s Independence as a musical type for entertainment in Accra. Kpanlongo is presently performed at life-cycle events, festivals, and political rallies.
Klama Is the music and dance is associated with puberty rites of the Krobo people of Ghana. It emphasizes the graceful movement of hands and feet. With small rhythmic steps and heads turned demurely downward, the dancers embody quiet elegance. The different movements of the dance are designed to reveal the beauty of the dancers. Suitors watching from the sidelines will often approach a girl's family after the ceremony and make an offer for her hand in marriage.
Agbadza The traditional dance of the Eʋe (Ewe or Eve) people of Ghana. It is characterized by the graceful choreograph of a couple seasoned with the rhythmic movement of the arms, the waist and the feet in perfect synchrony.
Agbadza, is traditionally a war dance but is now used in social and recreational situations to celebrate peace. War dances are sometimes used as military training exercises, with signals from the lead drum ordering the warriors to move ahead, to the right, go down, etc. These dances also helped in preparing the warriors for battle and upon their return from fighting they would act out their deeds in battle through their movements in the dance.
Atsiagbekor is a contemporary version of the Ewe war dance Atamga (Great (ga) Oath (atama) in reference to the oaths taken by people before proceeding into battle. The movements of this present-day version are mostly in platoon formation and are not only used to display battle tactics, but also to energize and invigorate the soldiers. Today, Atsiagbekor is performed for entertainment at social gatherings and at cultural presentations.
Atsia dance is performed mostly by women, and its a series of stylistic movements dictated to dancers by the lead drummer. Each dance movement has its own prescribed rhythmic pattern, which is synchronized with the lead drum. 'Atsia' in the Ewe language means style or display.
Bɔbɔɔbɔ (pronounced Borborbor) the Ewe-speaking people in the central and northern parts of the Volta Region of Ghana cultivate the Bɔbɔɔbɔ dance. Bɔbɔɔbɔ (originally 'Akpese') might have originated in the Kpando area, and is said to have been created by the late Mr. Francis Kojo Nuadro. He is thought to have been an ex-police officer who returned to Kpando and organized a group in the middle to late 1940’s. The dance has its roots in the 'Highlife' popular music of Ghana and other West African countries. Bɔbɔɔbɔ gained national recognition in the 1950’s and 1960’s because of its use at political rallies and the novelty of its dance formations and movements. It is generally performed at funerals and other social occasions. This is a social dance with a great deal of room for free expression. In general, the men sing and dance in the center while the women dance in a ring around them. There are 'slow' and 'fast' versions of Bɔbɔɔbɔ; the fast Bɔbɔɔbɔ is believed to come from the Kpando area and the slow version from Hohoe. The slow one is called Akpese and the fast one is termed to be Bɔbɔɔbɔ. Lolobi-Kumasi is known for doing a particular fast version of the slow version.
Agahu is both the name of a dance and of one the many secular music associations (clubs) of the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo, and Dahomey. (Gadzok, Takada, and Atsiagbeko are other such clubs). Each club has its own distinctive drumming and dancing, as well as its own repertoire of songs. A popular social dance of West Africa, Agahu was created by the Egun speaking people from the town of Ketonu in what is now Benin. From there it spread to the Badagry area of Nigeria where migrant Ewe fisherman heard, adapted, and eventually took it to Ghana. In dancing the Agahu, two circles are formed; the men stay stationary with their arms out and then bend with a knee forward for the women to sit on. They progress around the circle until they arrive at their original partner.
Ghana has many types of traditional and modern music. The sound varies from ethnic group to ethnic group and region to region. Ghanaian music incorporates several distinct types of musical instruments such as the talking drum ensembles, goje fiddle and koloko lute, court music, including the Akan atumpan, the Ga kpanlogo styles, and log xylophones used in asonko music. The most well known genres to have come from Ghana are Afro-jazz which was created by Ghanaian artist Kofi Ghanaba.[42] and its earlist form of secular music is called Highlife.
Highlife originated in the late 1800 and early 1900s and spread throughout West Africa mainly Sierra Leone and Nigeria. In the 1990’s a new genre of music was created by the youth incorporating the influences of Highlife Afro-reggae, Dancehall and Hiphop. This hybrid was called Hiplife. Ghanaian artists such as R&B and Soul singer Rhian Benson and Highlife singer Kojo Antwi have had international success.
Axatse
Ghanaian drummers
Dance of Ghana
Ghanaian dance is as diverse as its music. Each ethnic group has their own traditional dances and there are different dances for different occasions. There are dances for funerals, celebrations, storytelling, praise and worship etc. Some of these dances include
Bamaya It is performed by the Northern people of Ghana. It narrates the legend of a time of great drought. An oracle told the people that the drought was brought about by the manner in which the men were severely repressing and demeaning the women. It further stated that the drought would be relieved only when the men lowered themselves to the role they were imposing on the women by putting on skirts and participating in this dance. When the men did this it began to rain. It is currently performed during harvest time in northwestern Ghana by both Dagbani men and women.
Adowa A dance of the Ashanti peoples of Ghana. This dance is especially noted for the grace and complexity of the dancers' movements. The drumming is also noted for the complexity of the interlocking rhythms and the two atumpan drums which are used as the lead or master drum. Originally funeral dance music, Adowa is now also performed at annual festivals and social gatherings.
Kpanlongo Is performed by the Ga people of Ghana. It is often referred to as "the dance of the youth," Kpanlongo started during the wake of Ghana’s Independence as a musical type for entertainment in Accra. Kpanlongo is presently performed at life-cycle events, festivals, and political rallies.
Klama Is the music and dance is associated with puberty rites of the Krobo people of Ghana. It emphasizes the graceful movement of hands and feet. With small rhythmic steps and heads turned demurely downward, the dancers embody quiet elegance. The different movements of the dance are designed to reveal the beauty of the dancers. Suitors watching from the sidelines will often approach a girl's family after the ceremony and make an offer for her hand in marriage.
Agbadza The traditional dance of the Eʋe (Ewe or Eve) people of Ghana. It is characterized by the graceful choreograph of a couple seasoned with the rhythmic movement of the arms, the waist and the feet in perfect synchrony.
Agbadza, is traditionally a war dance but is now used in social and recreational situations to celebrate peace. War dances are sometimes used as military training exercises, with signals from the lead drum ordering the warriors to move ahead, to the right, go down, etc. These dances also helped in preparing the warriors for battle and upon their return from fighting they would act out their deeds in battle through their movements in the dance.
Atsiagbekor is a contemporary version of the Ewe war dance Atamga (Great (ga) Oath (atama) in reference to the oaths taken by people before proceeding into battle. The movements of this present-day version are mostly in platoon formation and are not only used to display battle tactics, but also to energize and invigorate the soldiers. Today, Atsiagbekor is performed for entertainment at social gatherings and at cultural presentations.
Atsia dance is performed mostly by women, and its a series of stylistic movements dictated to dancers by the lead drummer. Each dance movement has its own prescribed rhythmic pattern, which is synchronized with the lead drum. 'Atsia' in the Ewe language means style or display.
Bɔbɔɔbɔ (pronounced Borborbor) the Ewe-speaking people in the central and northern parts of the Volta Region of Ghana cultivate the Bɔbɔɔbɔ dance. Bɔbɔɔbɔ (originally 'Akpese') might have originated in the Kpando area, and is said to have been created by the late Mr. Francis Kojo Nuadro. He is thought to have been an ex-police officer who returned to Kpando and organized a group in the middle to late 1940’s. The dance has its roots in the 'Highlife' popular music of Ghana and other West African countries. Bɔbɔɔbɔ gained national recognition in the 1950’s and 1960’s because of its use at political rallies and the novelty of its dance formations and movements. It is generally performed at funerals and other social occasions. This is a social dance with a great deal of room for free expression. In general, the men sing and dance in the center while the women dance in a ring around them. There are 'slow' and 'fast' versions of Bɔbɔɔbɔ; the fast Bɔbɔɔbɔ is believed to come from the Kpando area and the slow version from Hohoe. The slow one is called Akpese and the fast one is termed to be Bɔbɔɔbɔ. Lolobi-Kumasi is known for doing a particular fast version of the slow version.
Agahu is both the name of a dance and of one the many secular music associations (clubs) of the Ewe people of Ghana, Togo, and Dahomey. (Gadzok, Takada, and Atsiagbeko are other such clubs). Each club has its own distinctive drumming and dancing, as well as its own repertoire of songs. A popular social dance of West Africa, Agahu was created by the Egun speaking people from the town of Ketonu in what is now Benin. From there it spread to the Badagry area of Nigeria where migrant Ewe fisherman heard, adapted, and eventually took it to Ghana. In dancing the Agahu, two circles are formed; the men stay stationary with their arms out and then bend with a knee forward for the women to sit on. They progress around the circle until they arrive at their original partner.
2010년 5월 16일 일요일
Post Two
Food of Ghana
Fufu
Fufu Note: Conventional west African fufu is made by boiling such starchy foods as cassava, yam, plantain or rice, then pounding them into a glutinous mass, usually in a giant, wooden mortar and pestle. This adaptati
on for North Americans may trouble you if you try to stick to minimally processed foods. But it's worth trying at least once with west African groundnut stews.
2 1/2 cups Bisquick 2 1/2 cups instant potato flakes
KENKEY
Fermented maize meal traditionally prepared by boiling balls of mixed portions of fermented cooked maize meal and raw maize dough wrapped in cornhusk. Another type called FANTI
KENKEY, which is popular in the central and western regions of Ghana, is similarly prepared but wrapped in leaves cut from the plantain/banana tree. These are able to keep for a few days to a week. Can also be taken as pulp similar to oatmeal or holicks.
BANKU
Banku/Akple: Fermented corn/cassava dough mixed proportionally and cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish consistent paste. Served with soup, stew or a pepper sauce with fish.
Sports of Ghana
Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport in the country. The national men's football teams are known as The Black Stars, the Black Satellites and the Black Starlets. They have participated in many championships including the African Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. On October 16, 2009, Ghana became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout.[41] There are several football teams in Ghana more notably the Accra Hearts of Oak SC and Asante Kotoko among others. Some Ghanaian football players that are recognised on an international level or achieved success in European football are Michael Essien, Abedi Pele, Ibrahim Abdul Razak, Tony Yeboah, Anthony Annan, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, John Paintsil, Asamoah Gyan, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Richard Kingston, Sulley Muntari, Laryea Kingston, Stephen Appiah, Andre Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah. Ghana is also the birth place of World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestler Kofi Kingston (born Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah), who is wrestling on the Smackdown brand. Also is Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong who competed in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The country has also produced quite a few quality boxers such as Azumah Nelson a three time world champion, Nana Yaw Konadu also a three time world champion, Ike Quartey, and Joshua Clottey, who is scheduled to fight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
Vida Anim, Ghanaian athlete
Tamale stadium
Games in Ghana
Antoakyire Game
All over the world, every society passes onto the new generations traditions of the old so as to maintain their cultural heritage. One of such traditions is children’s folk games. In traditional African societies, and the traditional Ghanaian society in particular, it is one of the ways of passing onto the young, its accumulated knowledge to enable them play adult roles and there by ensure the survival of their offspring, and the continuity of the community. Through the games, the young ones have informal education. They learn by listening, watching and doing. In practical ways therefore, they learn how to live as members of their community. They are taught the community’s code of conduct and behavior by the rules and regulations of the games.
In general, the goals and aims of the children’s folk games can be summed up as follows.
1. For body building or exercise
2. For recreation
3. Passing over the traditions of the old
4. Carrying out some hidden messages
5. For protection against immoral practices
6. For socialization
The games can be categorized into three
a) Games solely for boys e.g. “Antoakyire”, Playing marbles, Shooting of birds, ”Sansankroma”, “oware” among others.
b) Girls only: "Aso", "Ampe" among others.
c) Boys and girls: "Siisiisii", "Finding your lover", “Ahyehyeaba”, "Hide and seek", "Ahuntahunta", and others. Most of the games are played after the evening meals especially under the moonlight, and among neighbours within an area in the town or village.
I would like to talk about how one game from each of the three groups is played. “Antoakyire”. This is a game for boys only. Up to about twenty players can take part. The larger the number the more interesting it is. The players stand in a circle and each with a piece of cloth tied in a form of a knot at one end. Before the game starts, a place or object of refuge is chosen and a defaulter is free from beating as soon as he runs to the place or object of refuge.
One player holding a piece of cloth begins to run behind the others who are in a circle. He leads the others in a song and they all join. As he runs behind, he carefully puts the cloth behind one player. This player leaves his place and follows the first who comes to take the place of the second player. The second player also runs behind the others and carefully places the cloth behind another usually the one who may not be very attentive. The idea is when a piece of cloth is placed behind a player and the owner of the cloth goes round and comes back to meet the player, all the other players start beating him until the defaulter runs to the place of refuge. They all come back and the defaulter starts another game by running behind the others and tries to place his cloth stealthily behind another person, and the game continues.
The next game is "Ampe". This is mainly for girls. Usually two girls are involved. It could also be two teams of more than two in a team. The players or teams are identified as “Ohyiwa” and “opare”. 'Ohyiwa' scores a point when a player’s left leg meets the right leg or right leg meets the left leg of 'opare'. "Opare" also scores a point when the left leg meets the left or the right leg meets the right leg of "ohyiwa". The first to get ten points wins the game or contest. The game: Two contestants at a time, one from each team start clapping their hands while singing and jumping. As they land each manipulates the legs and places one leg forward. As explained above, 'ohyiwa' wins by the left leg meeting the right leg or right leg meeting the left leg of "opare". "Opare" scores by the left leg meeting the leg or right leg meeting the right leg of "ohyiwa". There is no referee but every team counts its scores as the game progresses. The first to get ten points wins. A set of games is played and the higher scorer determines the winner.
Finding the way: “Menya Kwan Mansen” as it is called in our language, is a game of a mixture of boys and girls. A number of children join their hands together to form a circle. One player will be inside the circle. The idea is for him/her to try to break through and escape. He/she goes round and asks “Which way is this”? The others respond… mentioning the names of the towns and villages around. This player then leads in a song. “Menya Kwan Masen” and the others respond “oowa”. “Mennya Kwan Mensen” “oowa” Meaning “I want a way out, but I cannot find the way". As he/she moves round inside the circle still leading in the song, he/she will be finding the line of least resistance by taping the joined hands. Having determined this, when he/she reaches this point he sings aloud and taps hard and breaks loose and runs away. One of the two children who let him escape goes inside the ring and another game starts.
Apart from the physical benefit the youth derive from these games, the youth in the case of “ampe” develop their body coordination and intuitive faculties for adult life. "Antoakyire” on the other hand teaches the child to have endurance, be watchful and a bit skeptical in life as all that glitters is not gold.
Antoakyire Game
That is an Akan folk game literally meaning it was not put behind you.
The children all sit in a circular fashion. Then one of them is made to carry a cloth and run around them singing:
anto akyire o anto akyire o then they will all respond yie yie yie!
anto akyire o anto akyire o then they will all respond yie yie yie!
obiba bewu o (somebody's child is about to suffer or die) yie yie yie
Kapoi poi All ( yie yie yie)
The song is repeated as many times as one continues to run around. He/ She does so many revolutions and the rule of the game is that for those children sitting, no body should look back. In the process, the moderator or the one whose turn is to run around secretly and quietly dumps the cloth behind one of those seate and continues to sing as if nothing has happened. The fast person should have a way of making sure that when the cloth is put behind him or her he/she will know and pick it and run after the moderator/person. If he or she is able to catch the moderato before he or she sits down, the new to be moderator, has the right to give the cloth back to the fellow who dumped the cloth. But if the seated fellow is that absent minded and does not realize that the cloth is behind him or her and the moderator goes round and comes back to meet that person still sitting. He/ she will hit lightly at the back of the fellow and all will laugh. Afterwards it is that person's turn to run around. The game continues till they decide to stop.
Pilolo Game
In Ghana, we have a lot of children's folk games. The game I would like to talk about is called "Pilolo", in our country meaning "Time to search for". In this game about four people are needed including the timekeeper and the leader. This game normally takes place from 3:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m. depending on any work will be done in the house. Before the game starts, the timekeeper has to stand at the finishing place, that is the end point. The leader will also be with the other four to make sure that no one moves from where he or she is supposed to be. The leader will hide sticks or stones in palm trees, in the sand and a whole lot of places. Then he will come and announce "Pilolo", while the timekeeper starts his watch .The person who is fast and able to reach there early for one of the hidden sticks and hurriedly runs to the end point is the winner of the game. The game is repeated several times till they wish to stop. The results are tabulated to find out the final winner. In fact, this game helps a lot in so many ways and is doing a lot for children in this country. The game helps children to healthy because it is a kind of exercise for the body. It helps them to physically fit, mentally alert and emotional sound. It also helps the children to be sociable and always learn how to live peacefully with other people and it also helps in morality. Since all the idle children get something to do by then they do not think about immoral acts like boy-girl relationship, indulging in drug abuse and the like such acts in the end lead to teenage pregnancy and its attending problems which society do not accept from the child.
Fufu
Fufu Note: Conventional west African fufu is made by boiling such starchy foods as cassava, yam, plantain or rice, then pounding them into a glutinous mass, usually in a giant, wooden mortar and pestle. This adaptati
on for North Americans may trouble you if you try to stick to minimally processed foods. But it's worth trying at least once with west African groundnut stews.2 1/2 cups Bisquick 2 1/2 cups instant potato flakes
KENKEY
Fermented maize meal traditionally prepared by boiling balls of mixed portions of fermented cooked maize meal and raw maize dough wrapped in cornhusk. Another type called FANTI
KENKEY, which is popular in the central and western regions of Ghana, is similarly prepared but wrapped in leaves cut from the plantain/banana tree. These are able to keep for a few days to a week. Can also be taken as pulp similar to oatmeal or holicks.BANKU
Banku/Akple: Fermented corn/cassava dough mixed proportionally and cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish consistent paste. Served with soup, stew or a pepper sauce with fish.
Sports of Ghana
Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport in the country. The national men's football teams are known as The Black Stars, the Black Satellites and the Black Starlets. They have participated in many championships including the African Cup of Nations, the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA U-20 World Cup. On October 16, 2009, Ghana became the first African nation to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shootout.[41] There are several football teams in Ghana more notably the Accra Hearts of Oak SC and Asante Kotoko among others. Some Ghanaian football players that are recognised on an international level or achieved success in European football are Michael Essien, Abedi Pele, Ibrahim Abdul Razak, Tony Yeboah, Anthony Annan, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, John Paintsil, Asamoah Gyan, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Richard Kingston, Sulley Muntari, Laryea Kingston, Stephen Appiah, Andre Ayew, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah. Ghana is also the birth place of World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestler Kofi Kingston (born Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah), who is wrestling on the Smackdown brand. Also is Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong who competed in the Vancouver Winter Olympics. The country has also produced quite a few quality boxers such as Azumah Nelson a three time world champion, Nana Yaw Konadu also a three time world champion, Ike Quartey, and Joshua Clottey, who is scheduled to fight boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
Vida Anim, Ghanaian athlete
Tamale stadium
Games in Ghana
Antoakyire Game
All over the world, every society passes onto the new generations traditions of the old so as to maintain their cultural heritage. One of such traditions is children’s folk games. In traditional African societies, and the traditional Ghanaian society in particular, it is one of the ways of passing onto the young, its accumulated knowledge to enable them play adult roles and there by ensure the survival of their offspring, and the continuity of the community. Through the games, the young ones have informal education. They learn by listening, watching and doing. In practical ways therefore, they learn how to live as members of their community. They are taught the community’s code of conduct and behavior by the rules and regulations of the games.
In general, the goals and aims of the children’s folk games can be summed up as follows.
1. For body building or exercise
2. For recreation
3. Passing over the traditions of the old
4. Carrying out some hidden messages
5. For protection against immoral practices
6. For socialization
The games can be categorized into three
a) Games solely for boys e.g. “Antoakyire”, Playing marbles, Shooting of birds, ”Sansankroma”, “oware” among others.
b) Girls only: "Aso", "Ampe" among others.
c) Boys and girls: "Siisiisii", "Finding your lover", “Ahyehyeaba”, "Hide and seek", "Ahuntahunta", and others. Most of the games are played after the evening meals especially under the moonlight, and among neighbours within an area in the town or village.
I would like to talk about how one game from each of the three groups is played. “Antoakyire”. This is a game for boys only. Up to about twenty players can take part. The larger the number the more interesting it is. The players stand in a circle and each with a piece of cloth tied in a form of a knot at one end. Before the game starts, a place or object of refuge is chosen and a defaulter is free from beating as soon as he runs to the place or object of refuge.
One player holding a piece of cloth begins to run behind the others who are in a circle. He leads the others in a song and they all join. As he runs behind, he carefully puts the cloth behind one player. This player leaves his place and follows the first who comes to take the place of the second player. The second player also runs behind the others and carefully places the cloth behind another usually the one who may not be very attentive. The idea is when a piece of cloth is placed behind a player and the owner of the cloth goes round and comes back to meet the player, all the other players start beating him until the defaulter runs to the place of refuge. They all come back and the defaulter starts another game by running behind the others and tries to place his cloth stealthily behind another person, and the game continues.
The next game is "Ampe". This is mainly for girls. Usually two girls are involved. It could also be two teams of more than two in a team. The players or teams are identified as “Ohyiwa” and “opare”. 'Ohyiwa' scores a point when a player’s left leg meets the right leg or right leg meets the left leg of 'opare'. "Opare" also scores a point when the left leg meets the left or the right leg meets the right leg of "ohyiwa". The first to get ten points wins the game or contest. The game: Two contestants at a time, one from each team start clapping their hands while singing and jumping. As they land each manipulates the legs and places one leg forward. As explained above, 'ohyiwa' wins by the left leg meeting the right leg or right leg meeting the left leg of "opare". "Opare" scores by the left leg meeting the leg or right leg meeting the right leg of "ohyiwa". There is no referee but every team counts its scores as the game progresses. The first to get ten points wins. A set of games is played and the higher scorer determines the winner.
Finding the way: “Menya Kwan Mansen” as it is called in our language, is a game of a mixture of boys and girls. A number of children join their hands together to form a circle. One player will be inside the circle. The idea is for him/her to try to break through and escape. He/she goes round and asks “Which way is this”? The others respond… mentioning the names of the towns and villages around. This player then leads in a song. “Menya Kwan Masen” and the others respond “oowa”. “Mennya Kwan Mensen” “oowa” Meaning “I want a way out, but I cannot find the way". As he/she moves round inside the circle still leading in the song, he/she will be finding the line of least resistance by taping the joined hands. Having determined this, when he/she reaches this point he sings aloud and taps hard and breaks loose and runs away. One of the two children who let him escape goes inside the ring and another game starts.
Apart from the physical benefit the youth derive from these games, the youth in the case of “ampe” develop their body coordination and intuitive faculties for adult life. "Antoakyire” on the other hand teaches the child to have endurance, be watchful and a bit skeptical in life as all that glitters is not gold.
Antoakyire Game
That is an Akan folk game literally meaning it was not put behind you.
The children all sit in a circular fashion. Then one of them is made to carry a cloth and run around them singing:
anto akyire o anto akyire o then they will all respond yie yie yie!
anto akyire o anto akyire o then they will all respond yie yie yie!
obiba bewu o (somebody's child is about to suffer or die) yie yie yie
Kapoi poi All ( yie yie yie)
The song is repeated as many times as one continues to run around. He/ She does so many revolutions and the rule of the game is that for those children sitting, no body should look back. In the process, the moderator or the one whose turn is to run around secretly and quietly dumps the cloth behind one of those seate and continues to sing as if nothing has happened. The fast person should have a way of making sure that when the cloth is put behind him or her he/she will know and pick it and run after the moderator/person. If he or she is able to catch the moderato before he or she sits down, the new to be moderator, has the right to give the cloth back to the fellow who dumped the cloth. But if the seated fellow is that absent minded and does not realize that the cloth is behind him or her and the moderator goes round and comes back to meet that person still sitting. He/ she will hit lightly at the back of the fellow and all will laugh. Afterwards it is that person's turn to run around. The game continues till they decide to stop.
Pilolo Game
In Ghana, we have a lot of children's folk games. The game I would like to talk about is called "Pilolo", in our country meaning "Time to search for". In this game about four people are needed including the timekeeper and the leader. This game normally takes place from 3:00 p. m. to 6:00 p. m. depending on any work will be done in the house. Before the game starts, the timekeeper has to stand at the finishing place, that is the end point. The leader will also be with the other four to make sure that no one moves from where he or she is supposed to be. The leader will hide sticks or stones in palm trees, in the sand and a whole lot of places. Then he will come and announce "Pilolo", while the timekeeper starts his watch .The person who is fast and able to reach there early for one of the hidden sticks and hurriedly runs to the end point is the winner of the game. The game is repeated several times till they wish to stop. The results are tabulated to find out the final winner. In fact, this game helps a lot in so many ways and is doing a lot for children in this country. The game helps children to healthy because it is a kind of exercise for the body. It helps them to physically fit, mentally alert and emotional sound. It also helps the children to be sociable and always learn how to live peacefully with other people and it also helps in morality. Since all the idle children get something to do by then they do not think about immoral acts like boy-girl relationship, indulging in drug abuse and the like such acts in the end lead to teenage pregnancy and its attending problems which society do not accept from the child.
Post One
Economy of GhanaWell endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains somewhat dependent on trade and international assistance as well as the investment activities of Ghanaian diaspora. About 28% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day, the vast majority of which are Ghanaian women from the politically marginalised and poor northern and upper regions[25] and according to the World Bank, Ghana's per capita income has barely doubled over the past 45 years.[26] Ghana, known for its gold in colonial times, remains one of the world's top gold producers. Other exports such as cocoa, timber, electricity, diamond, bauxite,[27] and manganese are major sources of foreign exchange monitored, operated and managed by the Presidential Ministry Agricultural Arm of the Republic of Ghana headed by Mrs. Antoinette Efua-Addo (see more information at www.Ghana-agricexport.com).[28] An oilfield which is reported to contain up to 3 billion barrels (480,000,000 m3) of light oil was discovered in 2007.[29] Oil exploration is ongoing and the amount of oil continues to increase.[30] There is expected to be a tremendous inflow of capital into the economy beginning from the last quarter of 2010 when the country starts producing oil in commercial quantities.
The Akosombo Dam, which was built on the Volta River in 1965 provides hydro-electricity for Ghana and its neighboring countries.
Ghana’s labor force in 2008 totalled 11.5 million people [31] The economy continues to rely heavily on agriculture which accounts for 37.3% of GDP and provides employment for 56% of the work force,[31] mainly small landholders. Manufacturing is only a small part of the Ghanaian economy totalling 7.9% of Gross Domestic Product in 2007.[32]
Ineffective economic policies of past military governments and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the Cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. Even so, Ghana remains one of the more economically sound countries in all of Africa.
In July 2007, the Bank of Ghana embarked on a currency re-denomination exercise, from the Cedi (¢) to the new currency, the Ghana Cedi (GH¢). The transfer rate is 1 Ghana Cedi for every 10,000 Cedis. The Bank of Ghana employed aggressive media campaigns to educate the public about the re-denomination.
The new Ghana Cedi is relatively stable and in 2009 generally exchanged at a rate of $1 USD =Gh¢ 1.4 [31] The Value Added Tax is a consumption tax administered in Ghana. The tax regime which started in 1998 had a single rate but since September 2007 entered into a multiple rate regime.
In 1998, the rate of tax was 10% and amended in 2000 to 12.5%. However with the passage of Act 734 of 2007, a 3% VAT Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS) began to operate for the retail distribution sector. This allows retailers of taxable goods under Act 546 to charge a marginal 3% on their sales and account on same to the VAT Service. It is aimed at simplifying the tax system and increasing compliance.[citation needed
Ghana’s labor force in 2008 totalled 11.5 million people [31] The economy continues to rely heavily on agriculture which accounts for 37.3% of GDP and provides employment for 56% of the work force,[31] mainly small landholders. Manufacturing is only a small part of the Ghanaian economy totalling 7.9% of Gross Domestic Product in 2007.[32]
Ineffective economic policies of past military governments and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the Cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. Even so, Ghana remains one of the more economically sound countries in all of Africa.
In July 2007, the Bank of Ghana embarked on a currency re-denomination exercise, from the Cedi (¢) to the new currency, the Ghana Cedi (GH¢). The transfer rate is 1 Ghana Cedi for every 10,000 Cedis. The Bank of Ghana employed aggressive media campaigns to educate the public about the re-denomination.
The new Ghana Cedi is relatively stable and in 2009 generally exchanged at a rate of $1 USD =Gh¢ 1.4 [31] The Value Added Tax is a consumption tax administered in Ghana. The tax regime which started in 1998 had a single rate but since September 2007 entered into a multiple rate regime.
In 1998, the rate of tax was 10% and amended in 2000 to 12.5%. However with the passage of Act 734 of 2007, a 3% VAT Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS) began to operate for the retail distribution sector. This allows retailers of taxable goods under Act 546 to charge a marginal 3% on their sales and account on same to the VAT Service. It is aimed at simplifying the tax system and increasing compliance.[citation needed
Regions and districts of Ghana
Ghana is divided into 10 administrative regions, subdivided into a total of 138 districts. The regions are: 
Ashanti, capital Kumasi
Brong Ahafo, capital Sunyani
Central, capital Cape Coast
Eastern, capital Koforidua
Greater Accra, capital Accra
Northern, capital Tamale
Upper East, capital Bolgatanga
Upper West, capital Wa
Volta, capital Ho
Western, capital Sekondi-Takoradi
Ashanti, capital Kumasi
Brong Ahafo, capital Sunyani
Central, capital Cape Coast
Eastern, capital Koforidua
Greater Accra, capital Accra
Northern, capital Tamale
Upper East, capital Bolgatanga
Upper West, capital Wa
Volta, capital Ho
Western, capital Sekondi-Takoradi
Population of Ghana
Education of Ghana
The adult literacy rate in Ghana was 65% in 2007 , with males at 71.7% and females at 58.3%. Ghana has a 6-year primary education system beginning at the age of six, and, under the educational reforms implemented in 1987 and reformed in 2007, they pass on to a 3-year junior high school system. At the end of the 3rd year of Junior High, there is a mandatory Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). Those continuing must complete the 3-year senior high school (SHS) program and take an admission exam to enter any university or tertiary programme.
Presently, Ghana has 21,530 primary schools, 8,850 junior secondary schools, 900 senior secondary schools, 52[48] public training colleges, 5[48] private training colleges, 5[48] polytechnical institutions, 4[48] non-university public tertiary institutions, 8[48] public universities and over 45[48] private tertiary institutions. Most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to primary and secondary education. These numbers can be contrasted with the single university and handful of secondary and primary schools that existed at the time of independence in 1957. Ghana's spending on education has varied between 28 and 40 percent of its annual budget in the past decade. All teaching is done in English, Ghana's official language, mostly by qualified Ghanaian educators.
The courses taught at the Primary or Basic School level include English, Ghanaian language and Culture, Mathematics, Environmental studies, Social Studies and French as a Third language are added, Integrated or General Science, Pre- vocational Skills and Pre-technical skills, Religious and Moral Education, and physical activities such as Music, Dance and Physical Education. The Senior High level School curriculum has Core subjects and Elective subjects of which students must take four the core subjects of English language, Mathematics, Integrated Science (including Science, Agriculture and Environmental studies) and Social Studies (economics, geography, history and government).
The High school students also choose 3 elective subjects from 5 available programmes: Agriculture Programme, General Programme (Arts or Science option), Business Programme, Vocational Programme and Technical programme.[49] Apart from most primary and secondary schools which choose the Ghanaian system of schooling, there are also international schools such as the Ghana International school, The Roman Ridge School, the Lincoln Community School and the Gmeiner International College, which offer the International Baccalaureat, Advanced Level General Certificate of Education and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
With 83 percent of its children in school, Ghana currently has one of the highest school enrolment rates in West Africa.[50] The ratio of girls to boys in the total education system is 1:0.96, which for a West African country, is a considerable achievement.[51] That said, some 500,000 children still remain out of school because of resource constraints in building schools, providing adequate textbooks and training new teachers.[51] UNESCO reports that sixth-graders sitting a simple multiple-choice reading test scored on average the same mark that would be gained by random guessing.
The oldest university in Ghana, the University of Ghana, which was founded in 1948, had a total of about 29,754 students in 2008.[52] Since Ghana's independence, the country has been one of the educational hot spots in Sub-Saharan Africa and has played host to notables such as President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Alhaji Sir Dauda Jawara of The Gambia and Cyprian Ekwensi of Nigeria among others. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been chancellor of the University of Ghana since 2008.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the second university to be established in Ghana, is the premier university of science and technology in Ghana and the West Africa sub region
Presently, Ghana has 21,530 primary schools, 8,850 junior secondary schools, 900 senior secondary schools, 52[48] public training colleges, 5[48] private training colleges, 5[48] polytechnical institutions, 4[48] non-university public tertiary institutions, 8[48] public universities and over 45[48] private tertiary institutions. Most Ghanaians have relatively easy access to primary and secondary education. These numbers can be contrasted with the single university and handful of secondary and primary schools that existed at the time of independence in 1957. Ghana's spending on education has varied between 28 and 40 percent of its annual budget in the past decade. All teaching is done in English, Ghana's official language, mostly by qualified Ghanaian educators.
The courses taught at the Primary or Basic School level include English, Ghanaian language and Culture, Mathematics, Environmental studies, Social Studies and French as a Third language are added, Integrated or General Science, Pre- vocational Skills and Pre-technical skills, Religious and Moral Education, and physical activities such as Music, Dance and Physical Education. The Senior High level School curriculum has Core subjects and Elective subjects of which students must take four the core subjects of English language, Mathematics, Integrated Science (including Science, Agriculture and Environmental studies) and Social Studies (economics, geography, history and government).
The High school students also choose 3 elective subjects from 5 available programmes: Agriculture Programme, General Programme (Arts or Science option), Business Programme, Vocational Programme and Technical programme.[49] Apart from most primary and secondary schools which choose the Ghanaian system of schooling, there are also international schools such as the Ghana International school, The Roman Ridge School, the Lincoln Community School and the Gmeiner International College, which offer the International Baccalaureat, Advanced Level General Certificate of Education and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
With 83 percent of its children in school, Ghana currently has one of the highest school enrolment rates in West Africa.[50] The ratio of girls to boys in the total education system is 1:0.96, which for a West African country, is a considerable achievement.[51] That said, some 500,000 children still remain out of school because of resource constraints in building schools, providing adequate textbooks and training new teachers.[51] UNESCO reports that sixth-graders sitting a simple multiple-choice reading test scored on average the same mark that would be gained by random guessing.
The oldest university in Ghana, the University of Ghana, which was founded in 1948, had a total of about 29,754 students in 2008.[52] Since Ghana's independence, the country has been one of the educational hot spots in Sub-Saharan Africa and has played host to notables such as President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Alhaji Sir Dauda Jawara of The Gambia and Cyprian Ekwensi of Nigeria among others. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has been chancellor of the University of Ghana since 2008.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the second university to be established in Ghana, is the premier university of science and technology in Ghana and the West Africa sub region
Languages of Ghana
Ghana has 47 ethnic languages. English is the country's official language and predominates government and business affairs. It is also the standard language used for educational instruction. Native Ghanaian languages are divided into two linguistic subfamilies of the Niger-Congo language family. Languages belonging to the Kwa subfamily are found predominantly to the south of the Volta River, while those belonging to the Gur subfamily are found predominantly to the north. The Kwa group, which is spoken by about 75% of the country's population, includes the Akan, Ga-Dangme, and Ewe languages. The Gur group includes the Gurma, Grusi, and Dagbani languages.[37]
Nine languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: Akan, specifically Ashanti Twi, Fanti, Akuapem Twi, Akyem, Kwahu, Nzema; Dagaare/Wale, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja and Kasem.Though not an official language, Hausa is the lingua-franca spoken among Ghana's Muslims[38] who comprise about 16% of the population. Ghana borders with Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
Nine languages have the status of government-sponsored languages: Akan, specifically Ashanti Twi, Fanti, Akuapem Twi, Akyem, Kwahu, Nzema; Dagaare/Wale, Dagbani, Dangme, Ewe, Ga, Gonja and Kasem.Though not an official language, Hausa is the lingua-franca spoken among Ghana's Muslims[38] who comprise about 16% of the population. Ghana borders with Togo, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
Religion in Ghana
The religious composition of Ghana in the first postindependence population census of 1960 was 41 percent Christian, 38 percent traditionalist, 12 percent Muslim, and the rest (about 9 percent) no religious affiliation. A breakdown of the 1960 population according to Christian sects showed that 25 percent were Protestant (non-Pentecostal); 13 percent, Roman Catholic; 2 percent, Protestant (Pentecostal); and 1 percent, Independent African Churches. The 1970 population census did not present figures on the religious composition of the nation.[1]
The percentage of the general population considered to be Christian rose sharply to 62 percent according to a 1985 estimate. Whereas the Protestant (non-Pentecostal) sector remained at 25 percent, the percentage of Catholics increased to 15 percent. A larger rise, however, was recorded for Protestants (Pentecostals)-- 8 percent compared with their 2 percent representation in 1960. From being the smallest Christian sect, with a 1 percent representation among the general population in 1960, membership in the Independent African Churches rose the most--to about 14 percent by 1985. The 1985 estimate also showed that the Muslim population of Ghana rose to 15 percent. Conversely, the sector representing traditionalists and non-believers (38 and 9 percent, respectively, in 1960), saw dramatic declines by 1985--to 21 and about 1 percent, respectively. This shift, especially the increase in favor of the Independent African Churches, attests to the success of denominations that have adjusted their doctrines to suit local beliefs.[1] Although no official figures exist to reflect regional distribution of the various denominations, it is generally agreed that the southern part of the nation is more Christian, while the north is more Islamic.[2]
Religious tolerance in Ghana is very high. The major Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter are recognized as national holidays. In the past, vacation periods have been planned around these occasions, thus permitting both Christians and others living away from home to visit friends and family in the rural areas. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is observed by Muslims across the country. Important traditional occasions are celebrated by the respective ethnic groups. These festivals include the Adae, which occur fortnightly, and the annual Odwira festivals of the Akan. On these sacred occasions, the Akan ancestors are venerated. There are also the annual Homowo activities of the Ga-Adangbe, during which people return to their home towns to gather together, to greet new members of the family, and to remember the dead. The religious rituals associated with these festivities are strictly observed by the traditional elders of the respective ethic groups.[1]
The percentage of the general population considered to be Christian rose sharply to 62 percent according to a 1985 estimate. Whereas the Protestant (non-Pentecostal) sector remained at 25 percent, the percentage of Catholics increased to 15 percent. A larger rise, however, was recorded for Protestants (Pentecostals)-- 8 percent compared with their 2 percent representation in 1960. From being the smallest Christian sect, with a 1 percent representation among the general population in 1960, membership in the Independent African Churches rose the most--to about 14 percent by 1985. The 1985 estimate also showed that the Muslim population of Ghana rose to 15 percent. Conversely, the sector representing traditionalists and non-believers (38 and 9 percent, respectively, in 1960), saw dramatic declines by 1985--to 21 and about 1 percent, respectively. This shift, especially the increase in favor of the Independent African Churches, attests to the success of denominations that have adjusted their doctrines to suit local beliefs.[1] Although no official figures exist to reflect regional distribution of the various denominations, it is generally agreed that the southern part of the nation is more Christian, while the north is more Islamic.[2]
Religious tolerance in Ghana is very high. The major Christian celebrations of Christmas and Easter are recognized as national holidays. In the past, vacation periods have been planned around these occasions, thus permitting both Christians and others living away from home to visit friends and family in the rural areas. Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, is observed by Muslims across the country. Important traditional occasions are celebrated by the respective ethnic groups. These festivals include the Adae, which occur fortnightly, and the annual Odwira festivals of the Akan. On these sacred occasions, the Akan ancestors are venerated. There are also the annual Homowo activities of the Ga-Adangbe, during which people return to their home towns to gather together, to greet new members of the family, and to remember the dead. The religious rituals associated with these festivities are strictly observed by the traditional elders of the respective ethic groups.[1]
Climate of Ghana
Ghana is a tropical country lying just north of the equator. The rainy season lasts from April to October in northern Ghana and from April to June and again from September to October in the south. Temperatures range from about 70°F to 90°F (21°C to 32°C) and the humidity is relatively high. The rest of the year is hot and dry with temperatures reaching up to 100°F (38°C). In most areas the temperatures are highest in March and lowest in August, after the rains. Variations between day and night temperatures are small.
피드 구독하기:
글 (Atom)