Introduction

Nnwonkorͻ is a female song tradition confined to adult Akan women in Ghana who in the past sang to entertain themselves in the night when the moon shone bright in the sky. The Akan are a group of people consisting of a variety of ethnic groups (traditionally regarded as states) who speak mutually intelligible dialects. The groups include Fante, Akwapim, Asante, Kwawu, Akyem, Bono, Wassa, Agona, Adanse and Denkyira, and occupy a large part of central and southern Ghana. Although each of these groups speaks a separate dialect, they are considered homogeneous in the sense that they share similar cultural norms, musical ensembles and traditions. Nnwonkorͻ groups are found in the Eastern, Asante and Bono Ahafo Regions of Ghana (see Map of Ghana). More recently, due to urbanization and socio-cultural transformation in Akan society, what once were the private musings of women, performed spontaneously and only at night, have become a means to public expression of various local and national sentiments. Today the nnwonkorͻ tradition has emerged into the broad light of day and may be seen as part of public celebrations in contexts of both rejoicing and mourning. Today, Government agencies including the Ministry of Health and the National Commission on Culture, and international agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) often engage nnwonkorͻ groups to compose songs about social and development issues in order to send a specific message to the wider Ghanaian public. Consequently the nnwonkorͻ repertoire now includes songs dealing with such matters as the dangers of drunk driving, the importance of breast-feeding, safe-sex practices and the prevention of AIDS. In addition, television and radio stations broadcast programs that feature nnwonkorͻ. While remaining thoroughly steeped in tradition, nnwonkorͻ plays an important social role in modern Ghanaian society in its use of songs to convey messages to the public. It is, therefore, expressive and one of the most exuberant vocal traditions in Ghana.