The xylophonist and the poetry of the xylophone text with emphasis on the dagara dirge

Abstract

The xylophone is one of the musical instruments used for various occasions by the Dagara [also known as the Dagaaba or Dagartis] and the Sissalas of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Whenever it is played it is normal to hear people who are familiar with its tunes sing or hum the mellifluous tunes that emanate from it. It is possible to see some people wiggling their waists to the rhythm of the tunes. But beyond the production of music are two other important roles that the xylophone text performs-a communication medium and a transmitter of poetic texts. In this study, an attempt has been made to shed light on the xylophone, the xylophonist and the xylophone texts. The nature of the texts has been highlighted with the objective of demonstrating how poetic they are. The study also shows how a text can manifest itself as a voice of conscience while maintaining its aesthetic value.