Basic 7 · Creative Arts and Design · Design in Nature and the Manmade Environment
Principles in Ghanaian Art, Art as Commentary and Local Musicians
In this topic you will analyse how principles of design organise Ghanaian artefacts, use art to narrate your views on community issues, and identify indigenous and art musicians whose works reflect Ghanaian life.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Analyse the use of principles of design in Ghanaian artefacts
- Narrate and defend a personal view on a community issue using evidence from art
- Distinguish indigenous musicians from art musicians and name examples
What you already know
- Elements and principles of design
- Music and community life
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Design
- Sub-strand
- Design in Nature and the Manmade Environment
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.3 – Research ‘principles of design’ to describe how they are used to organize the ‘elements of design’ into building blocks for visual design composition and creative expression of ideas
Introduction
Ghanaian craftspeople may never have studied the principles of design in a classroom, yet their works show balance, rhythm and unity perfectly. Studying these artefacts helps us see the principles in action.
1. The Asante Stool
The Asante stool has a flat base, a carved central support and a curved seat. It shows symmetrical balance because the left and right sides mirror each other. The curve of the seat repeats in the curve of the base, creating rhythm and unity. The central support is often carved into a symbol, such as a lion or an adinkra motif, which gives emphasis.
2. Sirigu Wall Painting
In Sirigu in the Upper East Region, women decorate the mud walls of their houses with geometric patterns and animal shapes in red, black and white. The repeated triangles and lines create rhythm and movement around the house. The limited colour scheme gives unity, while the bold black lines against light walls give contrast.
3. Analysing an Artefact
| Artefact | Balance | Rhythm | Contrast | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asante stool | symmetrical | repeated curves | dark wood against light carving cuts | matching curves of seat and base |
| kente cloth | symmetrical strips | repeated blocks of colour | yellow against black and green | strips sewn into one cloth |
| Sirigu wall | symmetrical panels | repeated triangles and zigzags | black on red and white | three colours throughout |
When you analyse an artefact, describe which principle you see, point to where it appears, and explain how it helps the whole design. This way your analysis is based on evidence, not just opinion.
New words
- artefact
- An object made by people, especially one of cultural interest.
- analyse
- To study the parts of something and how they work together.
- colour scheme
- The set of colours chosen for a design.
- geometric pattern
- A pattern of regular shapes such as triangles and squares.
Summary
- Ghanaian artefacts such as stools, kente and Sirigu walls show the principles of design.
- Analysis names the principle, shows where it appears and explains its effect.
- Good analysis uses evidence from the artefact.
Class activity: Artefact Analysis Chart
- Choose one Ghanaian artefact from the photographs.
- Fill in a chart showing balance, rhythm, contrast and unity in it.
- Present your analysis with labelled sketches.
You need: Pencils, Drawing paper, Printed photographs of Ghanaian stools, Baskets
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Sirigu wall paintings are found in the…
- A. Upper East Region
- B. Volta Region
- C. Central Region
- D. Ashanti Region
Show answer
Answer: Upper East RegionIn the north-east.2. The mirror-like left and right sides of an Asante stool show…
- A. symmetrical balance
- B. contrast
- C. variety
- D. radial balance
Show answer
Answer: symmetrical balanceMirror image.3. Sirigu wall painters use mainly red, black and white.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueA limited colour scheme.4. An object made by people, especially of cultural interest, is an ______.
Show answer
Answer: artefactMade object.5. Identify two principles of design in an Asante stool.
Show answer
Answer: Symmetrical balance; rhythm in the repeated curves (or emphasis in the carved support).Any two.6. How does a limited colour scheme help unity in Sirigu wall painting?
Show answer
Answer: Using only a few colours throughout makes all parts of the design look as if they belong together.Fewer colours, more unity.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Visual Arts
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B7.2.3.1.1 – Narrate own views of the history culture environment and topical issues in the community
Introduction
Artists do more than decorate. They also comment on what is happening around them. A painting, a cartoon or a mural can make people think about history, culture and problems in the community.
1. What Is a Topical Issue?
Topical issue: A problem or matter that people in the community are talking about now.
Topical issues in Ghana include illegal mining (galamsey), which pollutes rivers such as the Pra and Ankobra; plastic waste and flooding; deforestation; road accidents; drug abuse; and the protection of culture and festivals. Art can show these issues in a way that people remember.
2. Gathering Evidence
Before you narrate your view, gather evidence. Photographs of festivals show dress, leadership and history. Newspaper reports show current problems. Interviews with elders explain changes over time. A concept map can link history, culture, the environment and the topical issue, so your view is supported by facts.
3. Narrating Your View through Art
| Art form | How it narrates a view |
|---|---|
| poster | a strong image and short slogan, such as "Stop Galamsey, Save Our Rivers" |
| cartoon | humour and exaggeration to criticise a problem |
| mural | a large wall painting telling a story to the public |
| photograph series | real images showing change over time |
| painting | colour, symbols and composition to express feelings |
4. Defending a View
When you present your artwork, explain what your view is, show the evidence you used and answer questions politely. For example: "My poster shows a clean river beside a polluted one. The newspaper report says galamsey has made water treatment harder. My view is that the community must protect its rivers."
Tip: A good argument has three parts: a clear view, evidence and an explanation linking them.
New words
- topical issue
- A matter of current public concern.
- evidence
- Facts that support a view.
- concept map
- A diagram linking ideas together.
- mural
- A large painting on a wall.
Summary
- Art can narrate views on history, culture, the environment and topical issues.
- Views should be supported by evidence from photographs, reports and interviews.
- A clear view, evidence and explanation make a strong argument.
Class activity: Issue Concept Map
- Choose a topical issue in your community.
- Make a concept map linking it to history, culture and the environment.
- Present your view with evidence and defend it before the class.
You need: Printed photographs of local Ghanaian festivals, Local newspaper clipping, Chart paper with markers
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. A large painting on a wall is a…
- A. mural
- B. poster
- C. cartoon
- D. sketch
Show answer
Answer: muralWall art.2. Galamsey is a topical issue mainly because it…
- A. pollutes rivers and destroys land
- B. creates festivals
- C. builds schools
- D. improves roads
Show answer
Answer: pollutes rivers and destroys landEnvironmental damage.3. A view should be supported by evidence.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFacts make it convincing.4. A diagram linking ideas together is a ______ map.
Show answer
Answer: conceptLinks ideas.5. Name three topical issues in Ghana that an artist could comment on.
Show answer
Answer: Galamsey, plastic waste, deforestation (or road accidents, drug abuse).Any three.6. Describe how you would defend your view about plastic waste using a poster.
Show answer
Answer: State the view, point to the image and slogan, give evidence such as flooded gutters, and explain the link.View, evidence, explanation.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Connections in Local and Global Cultures
- Indicator
- B7.2.3.2.3 – Identify indigenous and art musicians in the community whose works reflect the history culture environment and topical issues
Introduction
Some Ghanaian musicians learned their craft from their families and communities. Others trained in schools and wrote music on paper. Both groups use their music to tell the story of Ghana.
1. Indigenous Musicians
Indigenous musician: A musician who performs the traditional music of their people, usually learned by listening and copying in the community.
Indigenous musicians include master drummers, court musicians who play atumpan and fontomfrom for chiefs, xylophone (gyil) players of the Upper West Region, kologo players of the north and dirge singers at funerals. Their music is often passed down orally from one generation to the next.
2. Art Musicians
Art musician: A musician who composes or performs written music, usually after formal training.
| Musician | Type | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Ephraim Amu (1899–1995) | art musician | composed "Yɛn Ara Asase Ni"; promoted the atenteben and Ghanaian styles in choral music |
| J. H. Kwabena Nketia (1921–2019) | art musician and scholar | researched and wrote about African music; composed art songs |
| Koo Nimo | popular and indigenous-style | palm-wine guitar music in Twi that keeps Akan proverbs alive |
| E. T. Mensah (1919–1996) | popular musician | known as the "King of Highlife" |
| King Ayisoba | indigenous-style | kologo music from the Upper East Region |
3. Music That Reflects Life
Many songs tell of history, praise leaders, mourn the dead or criticise wrong behaviour. Ephraim Amu's "Yɛn Ara Asase Ni" ("This Is Our Own Land") calls on Ghanaians to love and build their country. Kologo and gyil songs tell stories of farming, family and the environment of the north.
New words
- indigenous music
- Traditional music of a people.
- art music
- Composed, written music usually performed in concerts.
- gyil
- A wooden xylophone of the Dagaaba and Sisaala.
- kologo
- A two-string lute from northern Ghana.
Summary
- Indigenous musicians learn traditional music orally in the community.
- Art musicians usually train formally and compose written music.
- Ghanaian musicians' works reflect history, culture and topical issues.
Class activity: Musician Profile Cards
- Listen to short recordings of different Ghanaian musicians.
- Match each recording to a profile card and identify the type of musician.
- Choose one musician and present their background, style and message.
You need: Mobile phone with offline Ghanaian music recordings, Printed local-musician profile cards, Chart paper with markers
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who composed "Yɛn Ara Asase Ni"?
- A. Ephraim Amu
- B. E. T. Mensah
- C. Koo Nimo
- D. King Ayisoba
Show answer
Answer: Ephraim AmuA patriotic song.2. The gyil is a…
- A. wooden xylophone
- B. talking drum
- C. bamboo flute
- D. two-string lute
Show answer
Answer: wooden xylophoneFrom the Upper West.3. Indigenous music is usually passed down orally.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueBy listening and copying.4. E. T. Mensah is known as the King of ______.
Show answer
Answer: HighlifePopular dance music.5. State two differences between indigenous and art musicians.
Show answer
Answer: Indigenous musicians learn orally and perform traditional music; art musicians train formally and compose written music.Learning and form.6. Explain how a song can reflect the history or culture of a community.
Show answer
Answer: Its words, language, instruments and rhythms carry stories, values and events of the people.Music as record.
Homework
- Write a paragraph analysing the principles of design in an artefact from your home.
- Interview an elder about a musician in your community and write a short profile.