WO SHISHI JEE - OUR BEGINNING
My next recording project aims to shine light on Kpaashimo, the musical customs of the Ga fishermen, by exploring their unique songs through both a historical and contemporary lens.
PROJECT CONTENT:
There is a beautiful, unique custom that has been kept alive for centuries in the small fishing villages on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana. Ga fishermen not only do the work of fishing, they are masterful singers and songwriters and music is threaded into every aspect of their work. In this way, they are not only going through the motions of fishing and earning a living to provide for their families and communities, they infuse their work with spirituality and praise for the divinity of the Ocean through their songs. The music also provides them with a powerful way to honor our Ancestors.
This project will explore the deep traditions and current importance of the Kpaa songs.
The kpaa songs are a combination of oral literature, art, and poetry. The songs encompass histories, drama, riddles, myths, legends, and proverbs . The purpose of the oral tradition is to educate and entertain, including teaching the younger generations to learn about Ga culture. The songs play an integral role in the lives of the people by helping to build relationships, to correct injustices in the community, and to educate on the history of the people.
In order to carry out this project, I will immerse myself into the fishing communities along the coast of Accra. I will collaborate with local fishermen and fishmongers as well as community elders to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the Kpaa songs in Ga customs, both contemporary and traditional. I will work alongside the fishermen to create a unique album that celebrates the traditional, while fusing it with contemporary influences. These kpaa songs have never been recorded in this way before. I want them to be accessible to all people.
This project is very personal to me, as I grew up in a small fishing village, Kokrobite. As a young boy I worked on the fishing boats and I was able to be exposed to the Kpaa songs, singing with the fishermen as we went about our work. In my eyes, this music is a treasure. It is the soul of our culture. I feel deeply called to preserve it.
100 percent of the total project funds raised will go towards paying the collaborating artists, recording the album in a studio in Ghana, and working with a local Ghanaian photographer and videographer to document the project. It is really important to me to pay Ghanaians well for their work, which is why I want to do all of the recording in Ghana, so the money stays within the community. I will also share a portion of the profits from every album that is purchased with the fishermen who co-create with me, to make sure they continue to get reimbursed for their work. Historically, when people have recorded them they have not received any pay or recognition.
In addition to the audio recording I will produce a short, mini documentary about the entire project that will allow me to educate people on the unique Ga fishermen musical traditions and their role in Ga society.
Additional expense:
$1,500 round trip airfare or frequent flyer miles can be donated - these are the airlines that fly to Ghana: Delta, United, KLM, and United Arab Emirates
Donation rewards:
$300 and above: a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, name on back of the album cover, and in the documentary credits, a T-shirt, and a personal thank you note.
$200 - $299: a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, name on the back of the album cover, and a personal thank you note.
$50-$199: gets a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, and a personal thank you note.
$20-49: a download card for a full album download
My next recording project aims to shine light on Kpaashimo, the musical customs of the Ga fishermen, by exploring their unique songs through both a historical and contemporary lens.
PROJECT CONTENT:
There is a beautiful, unique custom that has been kept alive for centuries in the small fishing villages on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana. Ga fishermen not only do the work of fishing, they are masterful singers and songwriters and music is threaded into every aspect of their work. In this way, they are not only going through the motions of fishing and earning a living to provide for their families and communities, they infuse their work with spirituality and praise for the divinity of the Ocean through their songs. The music also provides them with a powerful way to honor our Ancestors.
This project will explore the deep traditions and current importance of the Kpaa songs.
The kpaa songs are a combination of oral literature, art, and poetry. The songs encompass histories, drama, riddles, myths, legends, and proverbs . The purpose of the oral tradition is to educate and entertain, including teaching the younger generations to learn about Ga culture. The songs play an integral role in the lives of the people by helping to build relationships, to correct injustices in the community, and to educate on the history of the people.
In order to carry out this project, I will immerse myself into the fishing communities along the coast of Accra. I will collaborate with local fishermen and fishmongers as well as community elders to gain a deeper understanding of the role of the Kpaa songs in Ga customs, both contemporary and traditional. I will work alongside the fishermen to create a unique album that celebrates the traditional, while fusing it with contemporary influences. These kpaa songs have never been recorded in this way before. I want them to be accessible to all people.
This project is very personal to me, as I grew up in a small fishing village, Kokrobite. As a young boy I worked on the fishing boats and I was able to be exposed to the Kpaa songs, singing with the fishermen as we went about our work. In my eyes, this music is a treasure. It is the soul of our culture. I feel deeply called to preserve it.
100 percent of the total project funds raised will go towards paying the collaborating artists, recording the album in a studio in Ghana, and working with a local Ghanaian photographer and videographer to document the project. It is really important to me to pay Ghanaians well for their work, which is why I want to do all of the recording in Ghana, so the money stays within the community. I will also share a portion of the profits from every album that is purchased with the fishermen who co-create with me, to make sure they continue to get reimbursed for their work. Historically, when people have recorded them they have not received any pay or recognition.
In addition to the audio recording I will produce a short, mini documentary about the entire project that will allow me to educate people on the unique Ga fishermen musical traditions and their role in Ga society.
Additional expense:
$1,500 round trip airfare or frequent flyer miles can be donated - these are the airlines that fly to Ghana: Delta, United, KLM, and United Arab Emirates
Donation rewards:
$300 and above: a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, name on back of the album cover, and in the documentary credits, a T-shirt, and a personal thank you note.
$200 - $299: a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, name on the back of the album cover, and a personal thank you note.
$50-$199: gets a hard copy of album cover signed by all artists, download card for a full album download, and a personal thank you note.
$20-49: a download card for a full album download
Organizer
Nii-Okaidja Afroso (Organizer)
Organizer
Portland, OR