A cultural appraisal of Odadaa: an artistic practice of the lifting of the ban on drumming and noise-making amongst the Ga people of Ghana

Abstract

The practice of lifting of the ban on drumming and noise-making amongst the Ga Mashie is celebrated with pomp and pageantry as it heralds the people into the annual celebration of the Homowo festival, a celebration that ridicules the hunger that once plagued them when the people arrived at their present settlement. However, it appears the significance of the practice, its artistic and other cultural aspects are not scholarly acknowledged when it comes to the appreciation of this cultural heritage. The ceremony is performed by the priesthood and a coterie of eminent elders who recite artistic prayers and pour libation, followed by beating of the sacred drums by the Gbese chief. This article explores the ideologies and significance of the various rites and more importantly the role of art which are with a number of other cultural aspects. In sum, though the celebration is a conglomeration of numerous aspects of the culture of the Ga people, it is preponderantly an artistic exemplar for art history.Copyright © www.iiste.org

Keywords: Odadaa, artefacts, celebration, ban on drumming and noise-making, art history