GENDERING MUSICAL DISCOURSE
African Music Journal of the International Library of African Music February 27, 2023 Amos Darkwa Asare 2 citations
In the Twelve Apostles Church in Ghana, healing rituals involve distinct but complementary musical roles for men and women. Women typically initiate singing about illnesses, while men primarily play the dondo (hourglass drum). Both genders play the mfoba (enmeshed rattle), which facilitates spirit possession—a key part of healing. Women are more susceptible to possession than men. Based on observations and interviews across six congregations from 2014 to 2019, the analysis argues that these gendered musical roles are complementary rather than oppositional, rooted in cultural interpretations of gender within the ritual context.