Contemporary Ghanaian Performing Arts

Contemporary Ghanaian performing arts have been influenced by foreign culture, technology, and education. It is a synergy of indigenous performing arts with Western cultural forms of performing arts. There are three main forms of performing arts practiced by Ghanaians today. These are music, dance, and theater.

Music

Contemporary Ghanaian music has been influenced by foreign musical styles and concepts, although there is no total eradication of indigenous musical styles. Some contemporary Ghanaian musicians combine indigenous and foreign musical styles when composing their songs. Styles of foreign music that have influenced Ghanaian music today include jazz, pop music, blues, rock and roll, reggae, ragga, R&B, Indian and Arabic songs. Contemporary Ghanaian music includes highlife that has more elements of indigenous music, hip-life that fuses slow choruses with Ragga lyrics or rap music. Currently, there is hip-pop music that is an exact interpretation of the Western style of music, although the lyrics and language are mostly Ghanaian in nature. There is also church or choral music, music by marching bands, regimental or military music, as well as classical music.

Various foreign musical instruments are used hand in hand with indigenous musical instruments. These include guitars, pianos, trumpets like the saxophone, foreign drums, cymbals, etc. Unlike indigenous Ghanaian music, contemporary Ghanaian music is recorded in high-tech recording studios where other artificial elements are added to the originally composed music to bring it up to foreign standards. They are then copied to compact discs, DVD, VCD, EVD, etc.

Contemporary Ghanaian music is played in theaters, church services, parties, concerts, dance halls, and parks. They are played during religious services to enhance praise and worship. They are also played during social functions such as wedding parties, sports activities, and the like to entertain attendees. During workshops, talks and seminars, music is played to relieve stress and boredom during intermissions in the program. They are played to boost competitor morale in various forms of competitions. Others are played to educate us on morality, patriotism and nationalism. There are various music competitions and contests that are held in Ghana to promote music. These include TV3 Mentor, X-Factor, etc.

Popular stars of contemporary Ghanaian music include Dr. Ephraim Amu, who composed several Choral songs for the Ghanaian community. Others include Agya Koo Nimo, Cindy Thompson, Yaw Sarpong, Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, Nana Acheampong, Obrafo, Sarkodie, etc.

Dance

Contemporary Ghanaian dance, like music, has been influenced by foreign dance styles. Some of these foreign dance styles include cracking, electric boogie, etc. The dance is performed to entertain people and express their feelings towards others. Ghana’s contemporary dance forms include quickstep, mambo, waltz, foxtrot, salsa, boogie, cha-cha-cha, robot move, twist, break, and now, Azonto. These dance styles are performed in various functions such as churches, weddings, funerals, parties, durbars and festivals, etc. Today several dance competitions are held in Ghana to promote dancing, such as the Malta Guinness Street Dance competition. Dancing is now a very lucrative enterprise in contemporary Ghana.

Drama

Contemporary Ghanaian drama is performed on a theater stage. Unlike the indigenous drama of Ghana, where the audience sometimes interacts with the audience while the performance is in season, the actors and actresses who play the various roles in the story portrayed in the performance are played without interruption by the actors and actresses of Contemporary Ghana. The audience, however, participates by clapping, booing, and yelling in an attempt to express their feelings for the performance. Contemporary Ghanaian drama includes plays, comedies, operas, and cantatas.

Popular contemporary Ghanaian theater groups include the Abibigroma Theater Group, the National Dance Ensemble, the Osofo Dadzie Theater Group, the Adabraka Theater Group, and the Tsadidi Theater Group. Popular dramatic themes in contemporary Ghana include ‘The Black African Slave Trade, by the National Dance Ensemble,’ Ananse and the Gunman ‘by Joe deGraft,’ A Ghost’s Dilemma ‘by Ama Ataa Aidoo and the celebrated’ Marriage of Anansewaa ‘by Efua Sunderland.

Contemporary Ghanaian drama is performed in churches and mosques to illustrate some Christian themes to educate members on Christian and Muslim doctrines and the relevance of leading a good moral life in accordance with God’s principles and regulations. During social gatherings, parties and festivals, theater is performed to entertain attendees. Others organize to educate the general public on social issues such as healthy living, personal hygiene, the laws and norms of the land, patriotism, and the like.