KPA Music As A Medium Of Social Resistance Among The La

ABSTRACT The lyrics of traditional music are an information source usually neglected in the study of cultures, yet, they hold an important part of oral history. This study examines the contexts and lyrics of a traditional music and dance form called Kpa shimo, which is performed by the people of La during their annual festival – Homowo. Kpa is the only type of music that is permitted during the festival in La. Some literary sources present the Homowo festival as a generic series of ceremonies among the Ga of Ghana. However, this is not the case, as there is diversity in how the festival is commemorated in the various Ga communities. Despite the attempts of some scholars to document and interpret the different elements of the festival, much attention has not been given to Kpa shimo tradition that is exclusive to the people of La and Teshi, a Ga speaking community which emerged out of La. Almost all existing literary sources that investigates Kpa shimo are based on a Teshi perspective. There is hence, no proper study of the tradition from the perspective of La people, who claim to be the originators. Drawing on information gathered from the La community, including data provided by community leaders and from literary sources, the study explores Kpa shimo, including the lyrics of selected kpa songs as a medium of social protest and resistance among the La and clarifies some generalizations about Homowo.