Book
Funeral dirges of the Akan people
Negro Universities Press • New York • Published In 1969 • Pages:
By: Nketia, J. H. Kwabena.
Abstract
This study is a comprehensive account of Akan dirges collected in the field from informants and recorded during funerals. The author, Nketia classifies dirges into four basic forms and analyses the structure of each, giving examples in both English and Twi. Dirges emerge out of women's wailing, following the news of a death, and mark the beginning of public mourning. They continue to be sung throughout the funeral in honor of the deceased. The singer mourns her relation with the deceased and the hardships that loss will entail. Dirges employ a range of metaphors for names and events. Nketia gives numerous examples of each. The appendix includes the complete record of dirges collected by the author in English and Twi.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2000
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Sociologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard ;1999
- Field Date
- 1952-1954
- Coverage Date
- 1952-1954
- Coverage Place
- Ghana
- Notes
- [by] J. H. Nketia
- 'Originally published in 1955'
- 'Texts of dirges in English, Twi, Fante'
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 295-296)
- LCCN
- 73098728
- LCSH
- Akan (African people)