Vivacious and Sad Dances: Yala jama and yala paatey as pre- and post-burial celebrations of the Ga people in Ghana

Abstract

This article investigates the special funeral ceremony of contemporary Ga people in Ghana. It unpacks the culturally controversial practice that are referred to as yala jama and yala paatey (a coined word for party). Today's Ga communities, during funeral ceremonies of persons who used to be popular, as well as societal public figures, practice what is largely termed yala jama (literally meaning funeral processional praise singing and dancing) and yala paatey (meaning funeral party). While the two practices would have been considered as cultural aberrations within the context of traditional funeral rites in the past, they are, to a large extent, accepted norms in the contemporary Ga society. The Ga people are a very interesting ethnic group who occupy part of the coastal boundary of Ghana, specifically the Greater Accra Region (habours the capital city Accra). The Ga communities, by virtue of their location in the capital of Ghana are susceptible to other cultures, because of the cosmopolitan tendencies of the region. The Ga, therefore, comes across as an eclectic society but have strong traditional roots. How has the funeral rites and ceremonies metamorphosed from sadness and moderately joyous after-burial-celebrations to vibrant jama and vivacious after-burial popular dance patterns? How have the traditional gate keepers embraced the conflict between sadness and buoyant celebrations during funeral and after burial rites? These and many more questions have instigated this paper. The research is predominantly qualitative including ethnographic approaches. Data gathered is in the form of ethnographic interviews, focus group discussions, study of online videos and archival materials for analysis. The paper argues that the Ghanaian society today is made up of ethnic groups whose changing behavioural patterns can be attributed to the nuanced and complex interactions, between the people and environment based on homogeneity, cosmopolitanism, enculturation and influences of new media practices.