Music and DanceMusic is an integral part of life in Africa generally, and is organized as a social event. Public performances, therefore take place on social occasions. This is when members of a group or a community come together for the enjoyment of leisure, for recreational activities, or for the performance of a rite, ceremony, festival. In fact, any kind of collective activity, such as building bridges, clearing paths, going on a search party or putting out fires, activities that, in industrialized societies, might be assigned to specialized agencies. Music making is spontaneous. Children learn to clap their hands in all societies before they can utter a word. In Ghana this is continued throughout the child's entire life. Children learn to confidently clap whilst singing and whilst other rhythms are going on. They internalize the beats before they learn to clap a rhythm. In some societies, a child who loses his first tooth has to sing a special traditional song to commemorate the event. When children go to the farm they have special songs which they may sing as a signal to their friends. Music is also performed by individual adults either for their own enjoyment or for the young. Cradle songs are typical examples of this. Their text may reflect not only themes interesting to a child, or musical elements amusing to him, but also references of interest primarily to mothers and adult listeners. Some societies make provision for a variety of domestic songs, or encourage the use of songs as an accompaniment to domestic activities. Grinding songs, pounding songs, and songs sung when the floor of a newly built house is being made are examples of this. Individual musical expressions have a place in traditionally masculine activities as well, and may be found in recreation, in work situations, or even in the context of worship. A lonely wayfarer may play the sansa ( a hand piano) as he travels. Such individual expressions become a part of the community experience only when they take place in social contexts. Accordingly they may be encouraged or requested where they have something to communicate to an audience. Thus, the individual singing of dirges, praise song, or boasting songs, and performance of solo instrumental music that carries significant messages feature in the activities of some social occasions. Singing is a spontaneous activity and may occur anywhere when thoughts are provoked or when a conversation, story or even a sermon needs embellishment. In this instance the nearest and most practical musical instruments are those of the body. Hands, chest, thighs and feet accompany vocal renditions of the thoughts. Often, objects to hand are also used. The words of the songs are often repetitive, but the melody may change from one line to the other and are often call and responses which encourage easy participation. There are songs for every occasion imaginable, selling songs, insult songs, songs for twins, puberty songs, bereavement songs, planting songs, digging songs, etc. The list is limitless. Whenever the occasion demands, a song can be made instantly to suit it. This kind of behavior is common not only to Ghana but to the whole of the African continent. KeleweleIntroduction and background of the songKelewele is a very popular evening time snack food in Ghana. It is made with 'plantain', a vegetable of the banana family. It is cooked and eaten as a vegetable not as a fruit. The plantains, are skinned, cut into cubes, marinated in crushed ginger, chillies, onions, cloves and seasoned with salt and deep fried in vegetable oil. Frying starts at about 5 in the evening. There are many different ways of preparing, cooking and eating plantains. This is the kelewele seller's song that she sings to entice customers to come and buy. MeaningKelewele is being cooked. You are sure to enjoy it. 'Jologolile' is Ga, the indigenous language spoken in the city of Accra. The full phrase is 'ja ologo olile'. Translation is equivalent to 'finger licking good or smack your lips in appreciation' The colloquial translation is 'you will twist and turn your tongue'. The original version of the song uses the phrase 'amadaa ne ebe' . 'Amada' is a Ga word for 'plantain' 'ne ebe' means it is ready. 'kelewele' has been substituted for easier pronunciation in the song. 'Kelewele' is generally used in Ghana to describe this type of food.A-shi e! kelewele e! A-shi e! kelewele, e! A-shi e! kelewele Jologolile A-shi e! kelewele Jologolile (repeat) A-shi e! kelewele e! A-shi e! kelewele e! A-shi e kelewele Jologolile A-shi e kelewele (chorus) Jologolile Jologolile Kelewele Jologolile Jologolile Kelewele Jologolile Jologolile |