Battle of Rites

Bediako cites a report from Voice Weekly about a conflict concerning drumming in African Christian worship: “A sharp conflict recently erupted between the Christian churches and the traditional authorities in teh Ghanian town of Akim Tafo over violation by the churches of a ban on drumming during a traditional religious festival. During the two weeks preceding the Ohum religious festival, drumming, clapping of hands, wailing, firing of musketry, and any other noises likely to disturb the gods is not permitted. But Christian churches in the town ignored the ban and continued to allow drumming during their worship services, arguing that drumming was an essential part of the Ghanian form of worship.”