A descriptive study on the use of Asafo songs as source material for teaching music and dance aspect in creative arts

Abstract

The study sought to explore the use of asafo songs as a source material for teaching Music and Dance aspect of Creative Arts in Agona East District of the Central Region of Ghana. The target population of the study involved all basic school teachers and pupils of Asafo, Kwanyako and Nantifa in the Agona East Municipality of Ghana. The study employed descriptive research design to collect information for the study. A sample size of 12; six (6) pupils and six (6) Basic school teachers from Nantifa, Asafo and Kwanyako were selected for this work. The study adopted purposive sampling techniques and snowball sampling technique in selecting the participants. Interview and observation were the research instruments used in collecting data for the study. The study revealed that most of the teachers were not well versed and familiar with various asafo songs. It also revealed that most of the teachers wished that the use of asafo songs could be accepted as source material in teaching Music and Dance aspect of Creative Arts at all levels in the Ghanaian Education System. It was concluded that due to the teachers‟ inability to use asafo songs as a source material for teaching Music and Dance aspect of Creative Arts, most of these class activities which involve the use of asafo songs are done in abstract. It was recommended that, Ministry of Education should take cogent steps and efforts to review the Basic School Curriculum for Creative Arts in order to consider the use of asafo songs as one of the source materials in teaching Music and Dance in Basic schools. Again there is the need for headteachers of basic schools in collaboration with Educational Directorate to create awareness and sensitize teachers especially Creative Art