On Distinctive Features and Categorization of Tewbabi Folk-Game Songs

Abstract

Folk-game songs of the Tewbabi people of Ghana have distinctive features that have great implications in the music curriculum in Ghana. Unfortunately, the significance of many of these folk-game songs in Ghanaian context has not been given much attention to propel its use in the music curriculum in Ghana. The study therefore sought to collect, categorize the folk-game songs among the Tewbabi people of Ghana. It also highlights some educational significance of these folk-songs to add to the paucity of literature on Ghanaian folk-games. The study was rooted in the qualitative research paradigm and using ethnographic research design, eight existing folk-game songs were identified and categorized into themes for educational use. The population included two cultural troupes who were purposively sampled to obtain the necessary information for the study. The instruments used for the data were interview, participant observation and personal conversation. It was found out that both transitional folk-game and actualization folk-game songs exist in the Tewbabi community. These folk-game songs have unique characters that have greater impact on the teaching and learning of music in Ghanaian basic schools. It is therefore significant that teachers make use of Tewbabi folk game songs to address conceptual problems in music teaching and learning.