Gender Stereotype in Musical Performances among the Alavanyo People in Ghana

Abstract

The Study aims at exploring the traditional musical types that are performed among the people of Alavanyo in the Volta Region of Ghana and classify the musical types according to gender orientations; and also to investigate the reasons why women in the area are not supposed to participate in some traditional musical ensembles in the area. The study being qualitative type adopted descriptive and case study approaches to present the study. The population consisted of Historians, Chiefs, Women in traditional musical performance as well as Men who are into traditional music performance. Interview and Observations were some of the instruments used for data collection. It was revealed that, Musical genres such as Akpi, Adevu, Vuga, Borborbor and Egbanegba are found among the people in the study area.The study made it clear that, due to superstitions, Taboos and Religious affiliations, women are forbid from taking part in some of the musical types in the area. The study recommended that, music should be taken serious in the school curriculum; traditional rites must be performed to pave way for women who want to take active part in all the traditional musical types in the area.