“Ban On Drumming Means Hunger For Us”-Church Workers

A group of renowned gospel musicians are crying foul on the current ban on drumming and noise making because they claim they are not getting gigs in this month as a result of the ban which has prevented many churches in the capital from playing drums.

Though all these musicians, mainly females pardoned for anonymity, Flex newspaper wants to correct the notion of hiding in the face of problems affecting their own career and to face problems as they are in their career.

In a survey conducted by Flex newspaper last week concerning the impact on the ban on drumming and noise making, a statement was posted on the social network Facebook trying to know the views of people in this period of silence. The public made various comments on the issue but theirs were neglected because of calls we received from some prominent gospel musicians who called our offices concerning our post on facebook.

It was only the musicians outside Accra especially Kumasi who never complained about any negative impact on the ban on them. Some even laughed at their fellow musicians in Accra to run to them whenever the ban comes around. It is the calender of the Ga traditional people that from 9th May to 9th June every year, a ban on drumming and noise making will be imposed in Accra and it`s environs in preparation to the Homowo festival.

Though the ban is being heeded to assiduously by all and sundry, there are a group of gospel artistes who think some things are working to their disadvantage. The views of these artistes were sampled and they have been published unedited as follows:

GOSPEL ARTISTE (1): “We are not against the Ga`s and their traditions but we are feeling the impact so much at this very time that some of us are promoting our albums. I just released my album to the market and God being so good, it is gradually receiving air play and people are beginning to accept the album. To make it happen successfully, I have to be following it up with shows and performances and the churches are my point of call first.

But here we are in a season which does not encourage drumming and noise making so no church is ready to invite me at this time of the year. Meanwhile, I also have a calender to travel out after May so I am deeply worried since it can affect my promotional pattern to make things work. I only pray that the song will continue to be with the people even after the ban so right after my international tour, I will also consider my people in Ghana” this is the cry of one gospel artiste who just released her latest album onto the market.

GOSPEL ARTISTE (2): All traditions and cultures are to be respected but when it brings hunger to the people who are to enjoy the traditions, then it must be looked at again with some other eyes. There were some churches who booked me for shows in this month but many have called to cancel the deals because they did not consider the ban when they were fixing the date for these shows.

What it means is that I have also lost some cedis in that regard which will go a long way to affect me economically since I could have made some cash if it had not been that way. What I think we have to do next is to seek for shows outside Accra in every month of May so we will not be left ideal in Accra in the month of May. The industry is still picking up so when some of these things happen, it takes us back again” she also added.

There were other complains from CD and cassette sellers who also revealed that because of the ban, they cannot play songs to attract customers and buyers. As much as possible, there have been reports that some bar and pub operators have also complained of low attendance at their bars which used to be busier before the ban on drumming and noise making but are now empty.

Source: Flex Newspaper