The Ga are a traditional African peoples currently resident in Ghana. According to their oral history they gradually migrated from the Congo area over very many generations, and were settled in the Accra region when the British arrived. What is now the Ga traditional state is in fact a tenuous political union created by the British and purely for their convenience, during the 'Scramble for Africa' and while the whole of Africa was being partitioned amongst various Western nation-states. >From once being a proud and independendent people, the Ga now live in an administrative district known only as the 'Greater Accra Region'. It forms the southern corner of the modern state of Ghana.

Nobody quite knows the origins of the dance/rhythm called 'kpanlogo'. Furthermore, nobody is entirely certain what the word means. The dance and its rhythm gradually grew in the 19430's and '40's. It started amongst the Ga and seems to have evolved out of some traditional Ga rhythms. From there it gradually spread to other areas. Kpanlogo was -- and still is -- a dance of youth and rebellion. The dance is often known by its nickname of 'lolo' which refers to the sensuous rolling hip movement that can be done in the basic steps of the accompanying dance.

During the Independence movement of Ghana in the late 40's and early 50's people -- especially young men and women -- would gather in the streets and play, sing and dance the kpanlogo. They would sing ditties about the British -- which the British could not understand -- about their yearning for freedom. The lyrics were often obscene with the young often dancing right up to their oppressors in the shape of policemen, soldiers and judges shaking their hips and their 'booty' and telling the British exactly what they thought of them. The British, of course, could not understand the words although they could not help but notice the body movements and gestures that were being used. They put it down to 'typical primitive behaviour' without realizing that they were in fact being taunted and mocked. Political rallies would often begin and end with popular kapnlogo freedom songs of the moment. Given the initial reluctance of the British to give credence to the desire for independence, kpanlogo played a big part in giving vent to the political expression of the day.

Songs based on this rhythm vary in mood and substance from the highly political to the tenderly romantic. The kpanlogo is still popular today even amongst today's youth. Although there are very many kpanlogo love songs, it is still sometimes used to criticize the government and give vent to political frustration -- sometimes with the West in general.

There are many variations of the kpanlogo, and authorities differ on which one is 'authentic'. The one presented here is chosen simply because it is one the easier to play -- and to programme in a hurry!!

The Kpanlogo is based on an 8 beat cycle.

The version presented here uses 5 instruments:

A 2-tone bell or gankogui which sets the basic timeline with 5 accents.

More modern kpanlogo players tend to either 'swing' the beat as in jazz 8ths or else simply delay the 2nd beat by a 16th note so that it is played more as if on the 'and' of '2 and'.

The shekere, rattle, or else handclaps which play the 'main beat'. This is most commonly vocalized as tsa.

Small drum which also plays two tones:

Medium drum which also plays two tones:

Big drum -- again two tones: