Ancestral Roots for Cultural Education: Unpopular Musical Types in the Ashanti Community of Ghana for Musical Instruction

Music serves as a vital reflection of cultural identity, allowing people to express themselves, celebrate, and narrate stories. In the rich tapestry of African traditions, the Ashanti people of Ghana regard music as an indispensable element. For them, music is not just an accompaniment but a cornerstone enhancing their way of life, deeply woven into various celebrations. Many communities possess their distinct musical customs, some not formally taught in Ghanaian schools, forming an essential part of their local heritage. The study therefore sought to uncover and catalogue the previously unacknowledged origins of existing musical genres within the Ashanti community of Ghana. Using qualitative research paradigm and case study design, data were collected among six purposively selected musical ensembles in Kumasi Township and their leaders interviewed to unearth and illuminate the roots of these musical genres and highlight their substantial impact on the social tapestry of Ashanti community as well as in the teaching of music and dance in schools. It was seen that the Ashanti have some unpopular ensembles such as sanga, Akosua tumtum, dansuom, alateawe as well as bɔsoeɛ which have rich origin and source materials for music learning. It is envisaged that, these diverse musical genres that exist within the Ashanti community are utilised in the education sector. This inclusion aligns with the essence of cultural education, not only in Ghana but throughout Africa, recognizing the significance of every culture's impact.

Keywords: Sanga, Akosuatumtum, dansuom, alateawe, cultural education, ancestral roots.