As Ghanaians there are a variety of experiences that define who we are. On various social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the phrase “You know you are Ghanaian when…” trends from time to time, and is used by Ghanaians to express what they think of the experiences the typical Ghanaian goes through. I will use this to highlight experiences of the contemporary Ghanaian, support these experiences with popular media genres. Fabian (1998) mentions that popular culture comprises a complex of distinctive expressions of life experience. Cartoons, music, paintings, photography, fake satire and theatre are prominent examples of popular art forms that have arisen and are used to express the experiences of the contemporary Ghanaian. Popular …show more content…
They take advantage of the average Ghanaian who do all the hard work for the few rich ones to enjoy. In 2015, a Transparency International report ranked Ghana as the 2nd most corrupt country in Africa (Transparency International, 2015). Sadly Ghanaians turn mute on issues of corruption. Now with the emergence of the popular culture art form of Hip life music, we can talk about corruption and what we think about it as a nation. Leading proponents of this art form who have made a lot of songs about corruption are A-Plus, Sarkodie and Barima Sidney. Since the turn of the millennium, A-Plus has made it his life’s work to sing about corruption and political issues. Sarkodie, another Ghanaian hip life musician uses his music to talk about the Ghanaian social issue of dumsor and how the leaders are so corrupt they do not want to do anything about it. Sydney is by far the most pronounced of these who is always singing about corruption. He is well known for his Donkomi song, in which he acts a representative of the people of Ghana who is interviewing the president on social issues and corruption. Barima Sydney’s songs cut across all spheres of public life and is not only limited to politics. He did a song, Sikadie Basaa, Countryman Songo, a controversial sports presenter in Ghana which looked at corruption in the sports sector. Truly, after love and money, corruption is …show more content…
They hide their messages in their forms of art and this brings to the fore another complex nature of Ghanaians. Ghanaians are implicit and do not clearly express themselves. They hardly go straight to the point and opt to play around with words. This is seen in all aspects of Ghanaian art woks but is more prominent in cartoons and high life music. Cartoonists always go through the indirect route to express themselvesThe use of art in a social issue is evident in a Bright Ackwerh cartoon (see appendix A). Recently, Ghana accepted to host two ex-detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison. This was met with a lot of apprehension from Ghanaians condemning the decision of the government to accept these two men. It was even alleged that the president, John Mahama took $300 million from the United States (US) government to accept the two (citifmonline.com, 2016) or that Ghana was just trying to please the US. Bright Ackwerh captured this spot on in this cartoon which shows the US president Barack Obama, with his hands covering his butt and running away from a goat who is chasing him to kiss his on the backside. On looking are two faces drawn on a sign post, evidently the two detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison, judging from their appearance. On face value, this is a picture of a goat chasing a man, but if it is carefully analyzed, the goat represents the
This essay will discuss the development of popular Senegalese music from the colonial period to the present. After their French colonialism, the Senegalese people found it extremely important to rebel against the European culture that the French left behind. In
For it was not only a voice of gold, but it was the voice of a man whose heart is golden, reading from a book of golden words”(Paton123). Through this passage, Paton showcases the full power of Msimangu’s voice and the reader cannot help but wonder if Msimangu with his healing voice can be the one to bridge the rift that divides Africa. Unfortunately, the reader slowly learn that Msimangu is a spiritual man and is more concerned in helping others live a spiritual life then helping them to win their rights. One passage in Cry the Beloved Country reads, “yet he is despised by some, for his golden voice that could raise a nation speaks always thus”. They say he preaches of a world not made by hands, while in the streets about him mean suffer and struggle and die”(Paton 124).
El Anatsui is an African contemporary artist, who uses art to expresses the culture of Africa post colonialization. Anatsui uses natural materials such as wood, clay, and discarded bottle caps in his artwork. Many of his pieces reflect the Ghanaian culture, by using inspirations from Kente cloth, a traditional West African cloth made from woven textiles with multiple patterns. He uses his art to take a stand by informing people on the issues that Africa currently faces. Anatsui’s art references many historical events from Africa and around the world.
African-American culture is rooted in struggle, determination, love, and empowerment. It is a culture that cannot be defined or put in a box due to its intricate and evolved nature. Creating, celebrating, and cultivating African-American culture is essential on campus and in the greater New Orleans area. Black Student Unions or Black Student Associations are one way that we create African-American culture on college campuses. Having African-American owned businesses is a way of creating culture in the community.
As restrictions eased, the detainees were allowed paper, pens and pencils to draw. Through creative expression many of the prisoners were able to find their individual identity once again. After living so long in a facility designed to tear away every last shred of individuality and freedom of self expression, prisoners were filled with so much pent up emotion. When I first encountered Adayfi’s artwork it struck me that despite its elegant simplicity, it seemed to convey so much emotion. One particular piece stuck out to me, one that was split into two halves.
As an African, In spirit and in truth: the music of African American worship answered many questions I had concerning the value of music in African Traditional religions. Traditional music and dance are two of the most cherished elements of the Ghanaian culture, and it is refreshing to know that there is a deep significance behind the music, instruments, and rhythmic movements of African people. When a traveler spends a day in Ghana, he or she would experience a variety of avenues where music and dance dominate. At the market place, in schools, in restaurants, and during weddings, or naming ceremonies, people play music and dance their hearts out. Costen states that Africans express their life experiences through music and dance, and I can agree with the claim.
Introduction Nowadays it is obvious that America is the most influential country in the world. It dictates us all how to live, what to like and what to admire. It can be said that America somewhat manipulates our everyday behavior, but does it in a subtle way. So that we don’t even pay attention to it. So, how can this country do it so easily?
The world as a whole is an extremely diverse and often confusing place in terms of knowing what is accepted and what is not accepted when it comes to certain cultures. Often times different countries from around the world have different and often distinguishably unique cultures than others around them. That is why I believe America is such an interesting and amazing place to live no matter who you are or where you are from. It 's because of all of these different cultures coming together that I feel that America has its own distinct culture, but instead of the culture having its own representative body, I believe that the “American” culture is a combination of the many different cultures that are present in the country of the United States.
Popular Culture I Öğr. Gör. Gülbin Kıranoğlu The Capitalist and Patriarchal Elements in the Products of Popular Culture Betül Kılıç 110111077
Specifically, mural art decorations cover most of the compound walls in Siriguyi, Ghana and communicate information that identifies the artists’ society. In this society art is functional and serves a purpose of not only being decorative but depicting the culture of the Nankani in its symbolism. Motifs and reliefs that are recognizable are highly regarded by the community. According to Kofi, "the Ghanaian artist, as a distinct member of his society he always wishes to create something that is recognizable in his symbolism... and he is disinclined to exceed the semi- abstract in order to express it." Generally, the designers (women artists) conform to the traditional decorations that demonstrate a preference for art that can be recognized.
My humble home, tucked within our modest suburb, is brimming with East African culture. The scents of freshly fried chapos permeate through my bedroom walls, plastered with cloth paintings from Kenya and South Sudan. The sound of Kiswahili, the fresh chai burning my tongue, these sensations are my comfort. I am an East African, by blood and by heritage. Dark, ebony skin and lean legs that extend for miles mark me as a typical South Sudanese girl.
We share the same cultural identity as we consume those cultural artifacts of narratives, memories, stories and fantasies to incorporate their cultural representations in similar or different ways into our everyday rituals and practices of daily life. Besides, the social and cultural construction of identity is highly influenced by media communication in the modern age. Technologies have empowered the media to communicate their meaning to a variety of people; (Hall, 1997) Social and cultural identity are linked to issues of power, value systems, and ideology. The media uses representations, such as images, words, and characters or personae, to convey specific ideas and values related to culture and identity in a society.
Over the last few decades, the world has witnessed the evolution of many different aspects of popular cultures, such as movies, technology, music, and fashion. Although the medium of Pop Culture has a lot to do with whether or not it actually causes change or if it just reflects on what has taken place. The general trend is that Pop Culture is utilized to reflect changes in people’s attitudes and beliefs, and only in rare instances does it actually cause significant changes. Movies in the 1970s and 80s are prime examples of how popular culture reflects on what is going on in society at the time, however, technological advancements in the 1990s is an anomalous example of when popular culture has caused changes in society.
People are immersed in popular culture during most of our waking hours. It is on radio, television, and our computers when we access the Internet, in newspapers, on streets and highways in the form of advertisements and billboards, in movie theaters, at music concerts and sports events, in supermarkets and shopping malls, and at religious festivals and celebrations (Tatum,