Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, (left) Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. He wears a strip-woven smock to which amulets enclosed in leather packets are sewn. Another protective amulet is sewn to the front of his hat. To the right, Kwabena Nika plays a double iron gong with a wooden mallet. Afua Tikya and Abena Donkor (center) look on. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Amulets; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Horn
Subjects Facet:
Gongs; Funeral customs and rites; West African strip weaving; Rites and ceremonies
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, (L-R) Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu and Akua Asԑmpasa play calabash rattles as a young man to the right plays an apentemma (Twi) drum. Three photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Gourd, Calabash; Drums (musical instrument); Funeral customs and rites; Rites and ceremonies
Ma Fiԑn of Gbao (left) and Abena Wusu of Dompofie (right) spin cotton thread. Their spindles (gԑndԑ in Nafaanra) are weighted by fired clay spindle whorls (gԑndԑ kaan in Nafaanra) which help the spindle to maintain an even spin. Ma Fiԑn uses a calabash bowl as a spinning surface. Abena Wusu uses an enamel-ware bowl placed on a basket. They use their right hand to guide thread onto the spindle as it spins. In their left hand they hold the raw cotton from which the thread is being spun. They control the tension and flow of the cotton by alternately pulling back and easing their left hands. Thread forms as the spindle spins, with the finished product building up in layers toward the spindle's lower end, near the whorl. The baskets on top of which they spin used to store spinning equipment when not in use. Until recent decades, spinning was a routine household activity for women who then gave thread to men skilled in weaving to make cloth for the household. Spindle whorls found on archaeological sites dating to the late 18th and 19th centuries tell us that spinning was also a household activity during those centuries. In the photo's background harvested foods are drying (groundnut, cassava, chili pepper). A large basket and other containers (including a plastic tub) sit next to dried calabash ready to be sent to market. To the right, a clay water pot (chͻkoo in Nafaanra) rests on a metal basin and in the top right is a metal water barrel. Four photos. Gbao, September, 1982.
The first oral history interview conducted by the Banda Research Project was with Kofi Asԑmpasa of Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo, Gbao, in November 1982. Asԑmpasa is pictured here with family member James Anane (holding the tape recorder), listening to the audio recording of his interview. His reaction upon hearing the tape: "That man knows his history!" Asԑmpasa was among the most remarkable oral historians encountered in the course of the Banda Research Project. Gbao, 16 Nov, 1982.
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, (L-R) Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu and Akua Asԑmpasa play calabash rattles as Ma Millah (left) and another woman (right) dance. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. On the left, Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. To the right of women playing calabash rattles (Akua Bedu Wo and Akua Asԑmpasa) Kwame Fnaso (standing) plays the special drums associated with the shrine. Ma Millah (right, blue top) looks on. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Horn; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; Gongs
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, (left) Yaw Ble wears a strip-woven smock as he plays an antelope antler horn. He holds an iron gong in his right hand. Next to him Kwabena Nika plays a double iron gong and women (L-R: Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu Wo and Akua Asԑmpasa) play calabash rattles. Amma Num (black head scarf, back right) looks on. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; Gongs
Oral history of Gbԑԑnlԑԑ [Gbeenlee] Katoo (house), Gbao. This was the first family history recorded as part of the Banda Research Project. The history describes how the Gbԑԑnlԑԑ family came to live in the Banda area, relating also the history of the Brafour segment of the family who live in Ahenkro (Kafͻnͻ/Kafono Katoo). It relays how the Jakari Fetish was brought to the area. Former male and female heads of family are listed. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Gbɛɛnlɛɛ Katoo, Gbau [Gbao]. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pp. 11-13. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 4 pages.
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, left, Kwabena Nika plays a double gong while to his right Abena Gyakari and Ma Millah sing and play calabash rattles. The drums being played are those specifically associated with the shrine. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Rattles; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; Gongs
A spindle (gԑndԑ in Nafaanra) and a spindle whorl (gԑndԑ kaan in Nafaanra) used to make cotton thread. A black camera lens cap shows scale. For much of the 20th century, spinning was a routine activity for women. Some of the spun cotton thread was dyed blue. The blue thread was woven together with white thread to make durable strip-woven cloths that were highly valued. The rounded spindle whorl is made from fired clay and painted with white and red designs. The spindle whorl's decoration inspired the Nafaanra proverb: "Chlͻ were nyu na gԑndԑ yi" (The woman is as beautiful as the spindle whorl." Archaeologists have found spindle whorls on Banda-area archaeological sites dating to the late 18th and early 19th century. Before that time it seems that spinning cotton was not a routine household activity and that cloth was made in market centers. The spindle whorl is laying on a courtyard floor, with an eroding plaster layer visible in the background. Gbao, September, 1982.
A plastic bowl holds pieces of animal bone that have been burned at a high temperature (calcined). Calcined bone turns white and its texture becomes chalky. Women periodically rub this bone chalk on their fingers to aid handling of the cotton as they spin to make cotton thread from raw fiber. Also in the bowl is a round clay spindle whorl (gԑndԑ kaan in Nafaanra) painted with white lines and a daub of white-and black cloth. Gbao, September, 1982.
Oral history of Chokoe Kataoo (house), Gbao, describes how the family came to settle in Banda and how they came to play a role in the area's New Yam Festival. Former male and female heads of family are listed. To cite: Stahl, Ann, and James Anane. 2011. Chokoe Katoo, Gbau [Gbao]. In, "Family Histories from the Banda Traditional Area, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana, 1986," pg. 3. Brochure circulated 1989, reissued with photos and additional histories in 2011. 2 pages.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
New Yam Festival; Family history; Migration; Chokoe Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Gonja (African people); Rites and ceremonies; Nafana (African people); Oral history; Banda (Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana)
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, two women dance (Ma Millah, center, Adwoa Kupo, right). To the left Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn. He wears a strip-woven smock adorned with amulets sewn into leather packets. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Amulets; Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo
Subjects Facet:
Funeral customs and rites; Dance; West African strip weaving; Rites and ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument)
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, Ma Millah dances, center. To the left Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn. Standing right, Kwame Fnaso drums. Eleven photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Horn; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Drums (musical instrument); Funeral customs and rites; Dance; Rites and ceremonies
Adwoa Kupo dances as Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Funeral customs and rites; Dance; Rites and ceremonies; Drums (musical instrument)
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine. After falling ill and dying, the man was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he was alleged to be planning against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. On the left, Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. Next (right), Kwabena Nika plays a double iron gong with a wooden hammer. Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu Wo, and Akua Asԑmpasa (blue top) play calabash rattles. Standing, Kwame Fnaso plays the special drums associated with the shrine. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Location(s) Facet:
Gbao
Subjects:
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ (Gbeenlee) Katoo; Atumpan drums
Subjects Facet:
Rites and ceremonies; Funeral customs and rites; Gourd, Calabash; Gongs; Drums (musical instrument)
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. On the left, Yaw Ble plays an antelope antler horn while holding an iron gong in his right hand. Abena Gyakari, Akua Bedu Wo, and Akua Asԑmpasa (blue top) play calabash rattles. Standing, Kwame Fnaso plays the special drums associated with the shrine. Looking on, right, is James Anane. Two photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here, Yaw Ble wears a strip-woven smock as he plays an antelope antler horn and dances. To the left, women play calabash rattles and Kwabena Nika plays a double iron gong. Drums that belong to the shrine are played as he dances. Four photos. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.
Gbԑԑnlԑԑ Katoo in Gbao celebrates the funeral of the caretaker of a shrine who was understood to have been killed by the 'fetish' because of harm he allegedly planned against family members. In this case, the funeral involves special forms of drumming, dancing and songs as part of a thanksgiving to the shrine. Here Adwoa Kupo (left) dances as Yaw Ble (right) plays an antelope antler horn and dances. He wears a strip-woven smock to which amulets encased in leather are sewn. Gbao, 8 August, 1986.