>
>www.ghanaweb.com: General News of Wednesday, 09 May
>2001
>
>
>"No-music" month Provokes Religious Passions
>
>A one-month ban on drums and loud music in Ghana has
>resulted in a stand-off between traditionalists and
>those who question an age-old practice of the west
>African country's Ga ethnic group.
>
>On Monday, a council of Ga elders, comprising priests,
>priestesses and chieftains, outlawed "the beating of
>drums" and other loud music for a month to mark their
>main annual festival, Homowo.
>
>Homowo, according to legend, marks month-long silent
>prayers by the Ga, an animist group, who were then
>facing a devastating drought and a famine.
>
>Their prayers were answered with abundant rains and a
>bountiful harvest, giving birth to the solemn festival
>which literally means "hunger tomorrow."
>
>The Ga comprise about 10 percent of Ghana's 20 million
>people. Their traditional homeland is Accra, the
>Ghanaian capital.
>
>This year's festivities have become controversial
>because unlike last year, the Ga Traditional Council
>-- or body of elders -- say the ban will be strictly
>implemented, especially in Accra.
>
>Last year, the Council overlooked drumming in
>churches, where Sunday prayers are commonly
>interspersed with loud music and percussion.
>
>Nii Adottey Obuo, acting president of the Ga
>Traditonal Council, told AFP: "the Ga people will not
>allow widespread violation of the ban.
>
>"Our simple demand during the four weeks of the ban is
>that the citizens should help in the promotion of
>peace and tranquility.
>
>"Violations of the ban offends not only traditional
>and cultural sensibilities of the Ga state but also
>decent-minded people."
>
>Sam Koranchie Ankrah, a leading member of the
>Charismatic Churches Association, a grouping of
>Pentecostal churches, disagreed saying he would defy
>the ban.
>
>"We will not be intimidated by the threat from the Ga
>Traditional Council. We have the right to worship and
>we would go ahead. It is up to the security
>authorities to ensure that a group of people under the
>name of tradition do not infringe our constitutional
>right to worship freely."
>
>The month-long ban also provoked tensions in Accra in
>1999, leading to clashes between supporters of the Ga
>Council and Christians who wanted to continue playing
>drums in church.
>
>About 20 people were injured, church property
>vandalised and cars destroyed in the violence.
>
>A senior police officer told AFP that things could go
>awry this year.
>
>"We have been receiving reports of the churches
>forming what they call 'warrior squads' to fight the
>Ga youth who may be attacking them for drumming within
>the churches. Securitywise, it doesn't look too good."
>
>Sources in the Ga community also said they were
>gearing up for clashes.
>
>Feisal Helwani, a popular music producer and owner of
>Accra's trendy "Napoleon" nightclub said he had
>stopped blasting music since Monday.
>
>"I think that we will have to respect tradition,"
>Helwani, a Ghanaian of Lebanese origin said. "We have
>this month-long ban every year and as music producers
>and nightclub owners we have to plan around this."
>
>Nii Adokyei-Moffat, a staff writer at Graphic Showbiz,
>Ghana's biggest-selling entertainment weekly, said the
>ban would "not affect nightlife too much.
>
>"What will be missing will be the loud music... but
>people can still drink against the background of
>lounge music."
>
>Kweku Boateng, a taxi driver who works at night, said
>his earnings plunged every year during the festival.
>
>"Many people stay at home because the discotheques and
>nightclubs do not open. And those who open do not have
>enough customers because they fear attacks if they
>play loud music."
>
>For Accra musician Korley Laryea, it is vacation time.
>
>"I believe we need to respect tradition. I always take
>this one month as a rest period."
>
>
>
>
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