My Mother Has a Television, Does Yours? Transformation and Secularization in an Ewe Funeral Drum Tradition

• Issue: Volume 20, Number 2
• Author(s): James Burns
• Article: View PDF | Download PDF
• Citation: http://journal.oraltradition.org/issues/20ii/burns

eCompanion

Audio Examples

Song: "Mebe mayi, wobe nyemegayi o."
Apeyeme Agbadza Singers led by Koshi Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Drum Language example: "Ege metua exo na adaba o."
Apeyeme Agbadza group led by Kodzo Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Drum Language example: "Kolo do supporta."
Apeyeme Agbadza group led by Kodzo Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Drum Language example: "Pastor fe home."
Apeyeme Agbadza group led by Kodzo Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Drum Language example: "Televisi le danye asi."
Apeyeme Agbadza group led by Kodzo Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Drum Language example: "Kaya."
Apeyeme Agbadza group led by Kodzo Tagborlo. Recorded in 2002 by James Burns.

Supplementary Images

Map: The town of Dzodze within Eweland. Also shows surrounding neighbors of Ewe.

Roman Catholic Mission Primary and Junior Secondary School. Dzodze, Ghana.

Initiates to the Amegashi shrine, a traditional religious group that specializes in communication with the dead. Dzodze, Ghana.

Ceremony for the Afa shrine. Dzodze, Ghana.

The late Mishiso Tagborlo. Dzodze, Ghana.

King Tagborlo playing a tin can drum- the latest drum prodigy.

Ageshe dance-drumming at a funeral. Kodzo Tagborlo (left wearing red shirt) is playing the master drum. Dzodze, Ghana.

Participant/Spectators dancing Ageshe. Dzodze, Ghana.