Traditional Drumming and Dances of Ghana

As conveyed in Traditional Drumming and Dances of Ghana, drum rhythms communicate important messages on all occasions: about unity, bravery in war, honoring ancestors and chiefs, and initiation into adulthood, among others. Scholar and music editor John Tanson recorded music of six Ghanaian tribes in the 1970s, and the resulting album shows the significance of drumming and dance, especially as demonstrated in the track “Talking Drums.” Track notes are accompanied by pictures of some of the dances and ceremonies.