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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:An Akan oral artist: the use of proverbs in the lyrics of Kwabena Konadu
Author:Agyekum, KofiISNI
Year:2005
Periodical:Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412)
Volume:21
Issue:1
Pages:1-18
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Ghana
West Africa
Subjects:Akan
oral literature
songs
literature
Literary analysis
Folk literature
Konadu, Alex Kwabena
Obi abawuo tuatua obi aso (title)
proverbs
About person:Alex Kwabena Konadu (1950-2011)
Abstract:Based on recent fieldwork on the renowned Ghanese traditional highlife composer and singer, Alex Kwabena Konadu (born in 1950), this paper examines one of his songs, 'Obi abawuo tuatua obi aso' ('The death of one's child disturbs another'). It presents a transcription of the song in Akan and its translation in English. The paper addresses the effects of environment, family, religion, education, economic life, politics and culture on an oral artist's composition, and discusses the concept of 'oral artist'. The paper looks at Konadu's sociocultural background and his major themes - covering all aspects of sociocultural life in Ghana, but particularly death - and at the moral theme and sociopolitical background of the song. The song is a social commentary on morality and depicts the culture and philosophy of the Akan people. An analysis of literary devices used in the song reveals that the proverb is the major literary device employed. Besides proverbs, Konadu also uses parallelism and allusions. Bibliogr., notes, sum. in English and French. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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