Seperewa bridge harp. Ashantis Ghana 2006

Seperewa teen string bridge harp is an ancient type of instrument within the Akan ethnic groups in Ghana. The Seperewe belongs to the Ashanti, Akan sub group. The Fanta,another Akan sub group, have a similar harp. Recorded in the city of Kumasi at the Centre for Cultural and African studies, March 2006.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• West
• African
• traditional
• string
• music

[adikiny]

Wonderful instrument, music and song. I wonder what the name of that instrument is in Seperewa Language.

[UlfJagfors]

The name of the instrumnet is Seperewa. It is a very ancient bridge harp withing the Akan language ethnic groups in Ghana were the Ashantis is one subgroup still wery rarely play the seperewa harp.One seperewa harp was depicted by Hans Sloan, founder of the British museum, in Jamaica already around 1690About 25 % of the population in Jamaica have their roots in the Ghana region. Ulf

[iasoRecords]

Nice videos, but please credit the musicians - it's interesting to know who these people are.

[UlfJagfors]

It was recorded at the Nkruma University in Kumasi in the faculty for Art and Music. I should have meet him the day after for a better interview but he never crop up.

I will probably be back in August in Ghana for more research work in Northern Ghana. Perhaps I will see him then.

Ulf

[UlfJagfors]

Yes I would love to be able to o this.The problem is that in spite of an agreement to see him next day for a more indept interview he never crop up something that is not uncommon in Africa. I made this recordings in a hurry as the coach for the group I were travelling with was waiting for me. I hope to back in Ghana this summer for more and better recordings.

Ulf

[kakompo]

Beautiful music. Has been a long time since I heard music like this.

[wetzig]

this is such a beautiful music. i want to here more of it. but where ...?

[paapakobe]

He's older + heavier now..Kwame/ Kweku.. uh oh i forgot, shame! But he is Koo Nimo's understudy/replacement at the University of Kumasi. He's also a wicked guitar player, I mean you don't know jazz until you hear highlife jazz! And the seprewa & Akan language are the root. That must be Koo Nimo sitting to the right off-screen, the Centre is also his house. I also filmed & recorded while i was there last year. It's fantastic place.

[MalamBala]

please see my Video of Osei Kwame Korankye playing Akan Seperewa.

Best wishes, MalamBala

[pillz04]

oh this reminds me of grandma. she use to play this. much appreciated.

[paapakobe]

What's really killing the culture (everywhere) is the lack of self-appreciation & "west is best" brainwashing. Thanks for taking time to film this w/interview. In Africa, a 15-min rainstorm somewhere else, can cut off your transit plans/communication for the day!

[paapakobe]

Seprewa is the heart of Akan instrumental music and all Ghana guitar music styles. But the guitar killed seprewa in Ghana - offering more notes & different keys without retuning. Live music is getting killed first by the "Curfew Law" long ago, then by the absence of live music venues, now by computer software [cubase/reason whatever].