A GNA Feature by Hannah Asomaning

Accra, March 5, GNA - The saying that what identifies a group of people is their cultural heritage is becoming real daily in this era when nations are trying to promote their culture internationally.

A nation without cultural heritage is therefore without identity and music that has cultural lyrics is a tool that could be used to educate the youth to better understand their culture.

Ms Lydia Asala, an official of the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation, (UNESCO) said there is no better tool to use to promote Ghana's cultural heritage than music. One of such musical lyrics that have been identified as a real cultural heritage is choral music.

Choral music is a kind of music usually sung by a choir with each part being sung by two or more voices. It is usually used in orthodox churches during worship.

Mr Kwabena Akyeampong, Deputy Minister of Tourism, holds a similar belief that choral music is part of "our heritage as Ghanaians." "It can even be used as a tourist attraction and it is one of the most unique attractions any country can have in terms of promoting tourism," he said Mr Akyeampong therefore recommends that choral music should be promoted as a cultural attraction.

He says the government, through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, has the responsibility to facilitate the promotion as far as the country' cultural heritage is concerned. That is why the Salt and Light Ministries, a Christian organisation that aims at motivating and encouraging people through the word of God and music, has adopted the promotion of choral music as one of the tools to help the organisation achieve its purpose.

Dr Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, said choral music, because of its soothing nature, even promotes peace. Good choral music is a useful tool for development, she said adding: "I wish all Ghanaians will see choral music as a good development tool. Choral Music provides people with a sense of well-being." Dr Aryee expressed the belief that any nation that depends on God for direction is a good nation and said choral music is one way through which Christians develop intimacy with God.

Ghana has great choral and classical musical talents like the late Ephraim Amu, Pappoe Thomson, Prof. J. H. Nketia, and Entusa Mensah, adding that such remarkable composers are the Handels, Mozarts, Bachs and Beethovens of our country. However, very little is known about them, their compositions as well as their genre of music.

"We have taken it upon ourselves to create platforms to showcase their composition and credit them for their contribution to the development of choral and classical music in the country" she added Salt and Light Ministries hopes to promote choral music to a point where Ghana gets recognise on the international market for the promotion of choral music.

Dr Aryee therefore announced a choral music event scheduled for the National theatre on the evening of Friday, March, 12, 2010 and invited members of the public to patronise the event, which would be free of charge. She stressed that choral music is good for everybody and therefore no body should be left out on Friday, saying, "The mind works best when it is in a relaxing situation and choral music does just that". The upcoming concert, dubbed: "An Evening with Newlove Annan," will be a spectacular event.

Giving her remarks about Rev. Newlove Annan, she said he is a versatile musician who has about 975 tunes to his credit. Many of his songs are performed nationwide by various choral groups including the Winneba Youth choir. Other choirs performing on the night are the Harmonious Chorale and the Methodist Evangel Choir. Dr Aryee said the choral music helps provide a stable atmosphere for the soul and "every human being needs that." 5 March 10