Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity
This paper discusses how music functions as an emblem of identity for the Afro-Brazilian community in Accra, Ghana, known as the <i>Tabom</i>. The paper provides a contextual and analytical study of the complete musical enactment as practiced by this community, and argues, that the <i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/8/2/95 |
| _version_ | 1819118166451683328 |
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| author | Benjamin Amakye-Boateng |
| author_facet | Benjamin Amakye-Boateng |
| author_sort | Benjamin Amakye-Boateng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper discusses how music functions as an emblem of identity for the Afro-Brazilian community in Accra, Ghana, known as the <i>Tabom</i>. The paper provides a contextual and analytical study of the complete musical enactment as practiced by this community, and argues, that the <i>Tabom</i> musical genre, known as <i>Agbe</i>, serves the purpose of creating and negotiating identity as found in their use of music within <i>Tabom</i> socio-cultural, religious, and political ceremonies. In this paper, I argue that <i>Agbe</i> is not only an organized sound in <i>Tabom</i> culture, but rather, it is one of the strongest cultural elements that serves as an emblem of identity relating to the life and culture of the <i>Tabom</i> community in Accra. Relying on ethnographic research design, <i>Agbe</i> is presented as the focus of study, subjecting the context in which it is performed to study and analysis. Moreover, the relationships between the <i>Agbe</i> ensemble and their performance context, as well as live events are discussed with the intent of conveying meanings of singing, drumming, dancing, and other related artistic expressions as they all contribute to help the <i>Tabom</i> to negotiate their identity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:44:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b56b45166b94f2abdae236fe5b38897 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:44:33Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b56b45166b94f2abdae236fe5b388972022-12-21T18:37:04ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872019-05-01829510.3390/h8020095h8020095Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of IdentityBenjamin Amakye-Boateng0Department of Music, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 19, Legon-Accra, Accra, GhanaThis paper discusses how music functions as an emblem of identity for the Afro-Brazilian community in Accra, Ghana, known as the <i>Tabom</i>. The paper provides a contextual and analytical study of the complete musical enactment as practiced by this community, and argues, that the <i>Tabom</i> musical genre, known as <i>Agbe</i>, serves the purpose of creating and negotiating identity as found in their use of music within <i>Tabom</i> socio-cultural, religious, and political ceremonies. In this paper, I argue that <i>Agbe</i> is not only an organized sound in <i>Tabom</i> culture, but rather, it is one of the strongest cultural elements that serves as an emblem of identity relating to the life and culture of the <i>Tabom</i> community in Accra. Relying on ethnographic research design, <i>Agbe</i> is presented as the focus of study, subjecting the context in which it is performed to study and analysis. Moreover, the relationships between the <i>Agbe</i> ensemble and their performance context, as well as live events are discussed with the intent of conveying meanings of singing, drumming, dancing, and other related artistic expressions as they all contribute to help the <i>Tabom</i> to negotiate their identity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/8/2/95Afro-Brazilians<i>Tabom</i>cultural identity<i>Agbe</i>performance |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Amakye-Boateng Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity Humanities Afro-Brazilians <i>Tabom</i> cultural identity <i>Agbe</i> performance |
| title | Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity |
| title_full | Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity |
| title_fullStr | Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity |
| title_short | Music of the <i>Tabom</i>: An Emblem of Identity |
| title_sort | music of the i tabom i an emblem of identity |
| topic | Afro-Brazilians <i>Tabom</i> cultural identity <i>Agbe</i> performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/8/2/95 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benjaminamakyeboateng musicoftheitabomianemblemofidentity |