Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
You'll come across churches of every imaginable Christian denomination; even the
smallest village can have two or three different churches. About 70% of Ghanaians are
Christian. Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations are particularly active, as are the
mainline Protestant and Catholic churches. If you can bear the length (three to four hours),
attending a service is an enlightening experience, whatever your creed.
Christianity was introduced by European missionaries, who were also the first educat-
ors, and the link between religion and education persists.
About 15% of the population is Muslim; the majority are in the north, though there are
also substantial Muslim minorities in southern cities such as Accra and Kumasi.
Many Ghanaians also have traditional beliefs, notably in spirits and forms of gods who
inhabit the natural world. Ancestor veneration is an important part of this tradition. Many
people retain traditional beliefs alongside Christian or Muslim beliefs.
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The Arts
Music
There's no doubt about it: Ghana's got rhythm. Whichever part of the country you visit,
Ghana's soundtrack will be a constant travel companion. From the age of three or four
children are taught to dance: it's not unusual to see little kids copying the hip-grinding and
ass-shaking that characterises the average Ghanaian party.
Traditional music doesn't have the popular following that it has in countries such as
Burkina. It tends to be reserved for special occasions and associated with royalty.
Contemporary music, on the other hand, is thriving. Highlife, a mellow mix of big-band
jazz, Christian hymns, brass band and sailor sonnets, hit Ghana in the 1920s, and popular
recordings include those by ET Mensah, Nana Ampadu and the Sweet Talks. Accra trum-
peter ET Mensah formed his first band in the 1930s and went on to be crowned the King
of Highlife, later performing with Louis Armstrong in Ghana.
WWII brought American swing to Ghana's shores, prompting the first complex fusion
of Western and African music. Hiplife, a hybrid of rhythmic African lyrics poured over
imported American hip-hop beats, has now been ruling Ghana since the early 1990s.
Imported American hip-hop and Nigerian music closely compete for the number two
spot after highlife. Gospel music is also big, as is reggae.
