Ghana Drumming Tours – Learn Ewe drum styles in Ghana

Ghana Drumming Tours – ethical, responsible, community based tours

Date: 2011 & 2012 dates available
Duration:11 days to 15 days flexible
Includes:The Ghana drumming tour includes accommodation – single rooms, breakfast and lunch, land transport, tuition,workshops, materials, site visits.

The Gardens of the Drumming Centre

After transfer to Hohoe in Volta Region, close to Lake Volta, you can balance your time between drumming lessons in the gardens and day trips outside. You will learn Ewe drumming styles including Bobobo and Agbadza. The preferred instrument is the Kpanlogo drum, which is played by hand similar to a Djembe. Our Ghana Drumming tours are available at selected times throughout the year so please contact us for further details.

The following video shows aspects of our Ghana drumming tours.

Ghana Drumming Tour Full Itinerary

Day 1. Meet at airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2. Orientation on health, customs, and currency: morning tour of Accra, Ghana’s capital: visit the National Museum to learn Ghana’s history and culture: see drums being made by the beach at the Arts Centre.

Day 3. Transfer to Volta Region.

Day 4-9. Drum, dance and sing, with optional day trips to see the Volta lake, Kente weaving, monkeys and Ghana’s highest waterfall.

Day 10. Return to Accra.

Day 11. shop in Accra or relax on the beach before return flight.

Useful Information for Drummers

Drum makers in Accra

Position and Technique - The kpanlogo is played from a seated position, with the drum between the legs and angled away from the lap slightly. The kpanlogo can be played using the djembe or conga techniques, but the Ewe have a playing technique unique to the kpanlogo. There are five basic sounds which are all combined to create the unique kpanlogo sound:
Bass - cup the hand with the fingers firm and close together, bounce off the center of the head
Tone - strike the head with the index finger, the 3rd knuckle making contact with the rim of the drum
Slap – strike the head with firm fingers, the top of the palm making contact with the rim
Mute – with firm finger tips strike the drum. This sound should be “dead”, without a tone
Muted Slap - place one open hand on the drum head and “slap” with the other, creating a high pitched crack.

For more about Ewe drumming including an audio piece go here http://www.african-music-safari.com/ewe-drumming.html and here for a video of a percussion troupe and dancers at a wedding http://www.african-music-safari.com/agbadza.html.

And here is a good blog with pictures from a guy in Ghana making his own drum – with help!http://atigeringhana.blogspot.com/2010/10/making-my-kpanlogo-drum.html

YouTube Videos of playing the Kpanlogo in Ghana

Note that you can take your own drum or drums will be supplied – you can play Kpanlogo rhythms with a Djembe, or vice versa, and you can try several different types of drum. And you can buy your own Djembe or other drum in Ghana for US $80, £40 or less!