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These remarkable field recordings, made by Bengt Berger in 1976, present a heartfelt collection from the singers, drummers, brass band and speakers of the most popular of village groups providing music at funerals around mid-western Ghana in West Africa.

Around the turn of the twentieth century, during the last of the Asanti wars, the Dormaa peoples of West Africa and their neighbours were forced upon defeat to the British to swear never to rise up again. Upon leaving to take the oath, wary of what lay ahead, the chiefs of the Doorma instructed their people to form a group as symbolic of hope — Ammasu Akapoma Group.

Among the many moments of fervent sincerity captured on tape is ‘You are So Brave’, a funeral dirge sung passionately by Amma Kyerenmaa. Recorded very intimately, it carries with it such depth and colour as to be an extremely striking listen which demands to be felt through the clarity of expression.

‘Let Us Say Goodbye to Each Other’ is another fantastically articulate piece. Recorded on-the-fly, it captures fifteen-minutes of reassuringly blissful sung and hummed refrains for the widows mourning through the night. This Kununku — old song form — is so hypnotic and soothing, accompanied by just a plastic jar and an empty bottle, that it really is something quite special to behold.

These pieces, so serious and direct, are balanced beautifully by the inebriated renditions of ‘New Love is More Than Madness’ and ‘If I Don’t Marry You I’ll Die Out of Shame’. Intoned triumphantly by the Chief and his Royal linguist, the tunes bounce around daftly to the obvious amusement of those present and myself.

Overall, throughout the various children’s songs and proverbs, the royal horn, brass band and drumming, we get an accessible and important record of a fantastic group which could resonate far outside the Doorma peoples home. It’s refreshingly direct and unselfconscious — a wonderful document of a culture handled with care and attention.

Coincides with the mp3 only release of:
The Music of Ammasu — More Singing
The Music of Ammasu — More Drumming
The Music of Ammasu — Analytical Drumming