DQ 3

I liked the way you explained the Yeibichai singers and how the situations that lead to their dance. I could picture the flow of events and how the community values their culture, to have danced on special occasions such as the cleansing. It reveals the occurrence of trance after the impact of the music is felt by the participants. I also concur with you on trance occurring in spiritual setups. I have experienced this, and at the moment, one visualizes things based on the effect the environment has on them.

Music can cause a lot of emotional reaction in the body, especially when we like it, or it induces a feeling that we cannot resist. In such a situation, trance occurs. I like the way you explained trance, “..the mind enters a state of heightened consciousness”. This means that one gets to the limit of self-concept to new awareness, hence act without minding the condition of their surrounding. The feeling does not occur because of drugs or any other factor imposed, but rather the impact that the music creates in our minds. DQ4

I agree with you that Ghana’s music is part of their culture and even exists as a form of education. This aspect is interesting since the cultures they have will keep being passed to the next generation and never will it be lost. I liked the fact that body movement is considered as part of the music. That means that the community dances to every rhythm, which makes it attractive as every activity in their culture involves a dance. This is different from western culture, and I think it would be fun to have body movements integrated with different types of music.

Your statement that Ghana music seems to be of high regard than western music is genuine. The people value their culture and use music to preserve them. This is unlike the European society, which only 2% are making music and all the others are just consumers. Therefore, there is a higher chance of preserving and maintaining the Ghana culture as compared to European culture. This was also facilitated by the chieftaincy system. I think, at a point in time, the lack of embracing music by the European people, will lead to the European culture fading away.