Traditional music and dance preservation in Ghana: Navigating authenticity and globalization

This research delves into the adaptation of traditional music and dance in Ghana, in relation to globalization, technological mediation, and institutional pressures. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, incorporating ethnographic fieldwork, archival analysis, and statistical surveys to probe audience engagement with traditional, modern, and fusion performances. The ANOVA results show that fusion performance garners the highest level of engagement, implying a public preference for continuity that accepts change. The article introduces the concept of contextual fidelity to address the limitations of the discourse on authenticity. Contextual fidelity acts as a culturally grounded evaluative lens that prioritizes intention, community recognition, and function, rather than adhering to rigid formalism. A continuum model of adaptation is proposed, accompanied by a three-tier framework that consists of cultural consonance, narrative continuity, and sonic fidelity to assess performance integrity. Variations in bell patterns are analysed as rhythmic codes that define genres, while institutions such as schools, churches, festivals, and policy bodies are studied for their roles in sustaining and transforming traditions. The findings show that traditional performance in Ghana flourishes not by opposing change but through responsible adaptation.