Adzrowo: Ewe music of Ghana, West Africa

This is a performance (cleaned up version of an earlier vid that had horrid sound) of a rhythm called Adzrowo that I learned during an extended stay in the Volta Region of Ghana. My first teacher was Godwin Agbeli (now passed) and then his sons Emmanuel, Rubin, and Victor (along with half the other youth in the village!) This version of the rhythm is as it is played in their village, and like many rhythms it's probably a bit different elsewhere.

The group here is Akoma, which was founded by Josselyne Price in the late 90's. They were originally graduate/undergraduate students from the University of Washington who wanted to play West African music as an independent study course/ensemble. Now the group still exists under the direction of an amazing Ashanti drummer named Yaw Amponsah, who is the son of famed palm wine guitarist Koo Nimo. (He's playing bell here)

This version of Adzrowo includes a few different call/response patterns between the lead drum (atsimevu) and response drums (kidi and sogo). What's missing is the song, clapping, and amazing dance that always accompanies music from this culture.

Update/Note as of February 2011: I continue to be amazed at both the number of hits, and the intensity of discussion here about race and musical culture. I intend to leave things as they stand, open for comments and insights. I ask only for respectful dialogue and the willingness to listen and critically think about other viewpoints, avoiding insults, flames and flinging ignorant stereotyped barbs. It's a worthwhile conversation - let's keep it that way.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• world
• music
• drum
• drumming
• ghana
• west
• Africa
• Ewe
• adzrowo
• kidi
• kagan
• sogo

[kofi7777]

Caucasians caused the disruption of black African cultural traditionals and now feel they have a moral authority to spread a modifified version to othersrather than those who gave birth to the rituals. Remember, black Africans herded off to the western hemisphere were not allowed to play the drum and told that thier gods and ancestors were evil. Today we find whites playing drums made of metal they manufacture dressed up in African style garments performing before black audience as if natural.

[JossieWossie]

This is so sad, Kofi. I think some of the points you brought up could have led to a very valid discussion of how cultural traditions are represented, taught, spread - but you squelched your own validity with your own rants. By your argument, any person's decision to engage in any artistic or other cultural form would be evil. I wish you well, and hope that your heart will heal and your mind will open, because countless others who have are benefiting from sharing music, dance, and song. Cya

[paapakobe]

Strong perf.+discussion! Appropriation vs appreciation. JoWo comebacks humbly acknowledge origin& both arguments. Kofi77 profound points+ superficial judgement. U2 hav a beer wObama. There's organic,GM, organicGM & processed food. Students arent evil. Sadly few Africans study this even when it's no th doorstep- lasting fx of slavery/capitalism. If JoWo was a prof teaching this, Id be peeved too, good as she is-alls not well@home. Still i respect her respect. Spirit is ultimately important

[JossieWossie]

Thanks for the thoughts, paapakobe - you're right, if I decided to make my living as a representative of Ewe music traditions alone, that'd be an issue to discuss. I'd be making money for representing something that I can only do halfway, given the intricacies and connectivity between language, music, and other aspects of this culture. BUT - I make my living as a professor, teaching many subjects.....

[hapap1]

@kofi7777 i agree with u bro. As i was listening to the first 10 seconds of the vids, I was like "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?". ( This aint no ewe music, this is bull)

[JossieWossie]

@hapap1 Thanks trol... I mean, hapap, but really... Notice the guy in the back corner, on bell? He's Ghanaian, and we played together for a few years. He gave some pretty positive feedback throughout our work together, which I trust much more than trollish Youtube spouting. Please enlighten us with what background you come from that you can deny this as Ewe music? Would you say that to the late Godwin Agbeli or his son Emmanuel, who taught me and others this rhythm? Would you insult them?

[ghanagirl11]

me tooo!!!!!!!!!!

[ourpeoples]

This has nothing to do with slavery, really - please, get off that creaky horse! I hope your rantings were coming from a source as valid as this professor's quest for knowledge and her unselfish desire to disseminate it - be it Ewe music and drumming or whatever. Yes - slavery was ugly and inhuman but white ppl didn't understand it till us Africans broke it down for them. Do your homework and here are some pointers: Ashanti/Ewe, Salaga Market, Saakasaaka park. . . Keep up the good work, prof!

[delaplanemusic]

@kofi7777 And you're right, it certainly will NOT erase the generations of slavery white Americans imposed on Africans, much like reading the Torah would not erase the enslavement of the Hebrews at the hands of Africans (Yes, even Africans were slave owners at one point in time).

[billio0104]

@kofi7777 to jossiewossie..YOU SEEM TO FORGET OR CHOSE TO FORGET THAT YOUR PEOPLE WERE BETRAYED BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE ! IT WAS YOUR PEOPLE WHO HERDED UP THE TRIBESMEN AND SOLD THEM TO THE SLAVE TRADERS ! YOU ARE JUST AN ANGRY BLACK PERSON WHO HAS A CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER ! WHO GIVES A SHIT WHO IS PLAYING WHAT INSTRUMENT! THE FACT THAT "CAUCASIONS" ARE EMBRACING "YOUR" MUSIC SHOULD BE A BLESSING TO YOU! YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WILL GO THROUGH YOUR MISERABLE LIFE RANTING ABOUT EVIL "WHITEY".

[Saurencaerthai]

@kofi7777 You make me sick. You are no better than those who generalize about "all blacks." I play the music of the Ewe people, the Dagomba, the Ashanti, the Ga not because I have any guilt for supposed wrongs I have committed, but because of the love and appreciation I have for this beautiful music and culture. I learn on their terms and do my best to do the music justice.

[hapap1]

@JossieWossie I am Nigerian. I am second kofi7777 thought on it, thats all. There is a deeper meaning to what kofi7777 is saying. Read it over and over again and do your search, then will you understanding what Kofi7777 is saying and why i second that thought.

[poklar]

Are these polyrhythms? It's excellent!!

[GruvTraveller01]

By chance I discovered this video here and was suprised byt the fact that not only am I one of the "white people" performing in this video but the following series of comments was so contemptuous of my participation!! I will say that I apprecnticed myself to a Ghanaian master drummer for 10 years, I have done my dissertation research on this music, lived with my Asante family and have approached both experiences with respect and devotion. The racial overtones of the comments is absurd.