Rhythmic drums from West Africa

Ghana

(Map of Africa, showing Ghana, from Wikipedia).

The Republic of Ghana is located in West Africa. It borders Cote d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.

Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient, predominantly Akan Kingdoms, including the Akwamus on the eastern coast, the inland Ashanti Empire and various Fante and non-Akan states like the Ga and Ewe states along the coast. Trade with European states flourished after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established a Crown Colony, the Gold Coast, in 1874.

Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence in 1957.

Obverse

The obverse features the country name and motto with Adowa drums. The motto of Ghana is “Freedom and Justice“

Adowa Dance & Drums

The Adowa dance was originally performed by the Ashantis at funerals and festivals but due to modernity and cross-cultural adaptation, it is performed by all ethnic groups in Ghana and even beyond our shores.

Adowa is a popular dance, especially among the Akans. It has a unique tempo and rhythm. An Adowa ensemble comprises a lead singer, a chorus, and percussion instruments. The leader and the chorus are nearly always middle-aged women. The dancers use symbolic language, and the different movements of their hands telling their own story. The short dance steps are very subtle, drawing attention to the upper part of the body.

We are told from history that the dance originated in the early days of warfare when once the Great Queen mother of the Ashantis (Abrewa Tutuwaa) was sick and the only way for her healing was through getting a live antelope from the wild to pacify the gods and make her well again as revealed by the chief priest. The delegation who went to catch this antelope saw the captivating movements of this antelope so they imitated and danced to the entire household how the antelope exhibited such skilful moves on their arrival.

The drums pictured on the coin are Atumpan. The atumpan is the main talking drum of the Akan people. It is the most favoured instrument to play the bass part to accompany dancing. The atumpan is an open goblet drum on a base. It is played in pairs, usually by a master drummer using two angular sticks. The membrane is stretched across the head of the drum inside a metal ring, which is anchored to 7 to 8 conical pegs around the outside of the drum. The atumpan drum measures approximately 1 m in height and has a diameter of 45 cm at the top. Here is a video of the Adowa Drums being played.

Reverse

The reverse of the coin features “5-pointed star in the center dividing date, denomination below”.

The star comes from the country’s flag, which has three horizontal stripes, from top to bottom: red, yellow and green. In the centre of the yellow stripe is a 5-pointed black star, which represents the lodestar of African freedom. The flag was designed by Theodosia Salome Okoh, a Ghanaian teacher and artist, and launched on the eve of Ghana’s independence from Great Britain. The black five-pointed star at the center of the gold stripe is a beacon of hope and unity. Described as the lodestar of African freedom, it served as inspiration for black people in Africa and the diaspora in the struggle for independence and unity. As the first African country to gain independence, Ghana paved the way for the independence of the entire continent.

(Flag of Ghana, from AdinkraSymbols.org).

The drums on one side and star on the other are both highly symbolic of Ghana. The star features in the same fashion on 12 of the country’s 37 circulating coins issued since independence. Eight coins feature the greater coat of arms, which includes the star above. The other 17 coins feature the lesser coat of arms, which doesn’t feature the star. In other symbolism, the first ten coins issue feature a bust of Kwame Nkrumah, the Founder of the State of Ghana. Eight feature Cocoa fruits, Seven feature the drums, and four feature the cowrie shell. In 1957, at independence, Ghana adopted the Ghana pound, using local designs but the same denomination as under British rule. In 1965, Ghana adopted the cedi (pronounced SEE-dee) which has its roots in Akan word for cowry shell. The name cedi was chosen to reflect the cultural heritage of the cowry shell by reflecting its significance as symbol of wealth, spirituality, art, and as medium of trade in many parts of Africa, including Ghana. The Cedi is made up of 100 “Pesewa”. I can’t find the meaning of the word Pesewa? Do you know? Please, let us know in the comments! What is your favourite symbol on a coin? Please, let us know below.