Psalms sung in traditional style aim to reach Ghana’s ‘fisher-folk’

Some of the ‘fisher-folk’ who will soon be able to hear the Psalms sung in the traditional ‘ebibinwom’ style

ACCRA, Ghana — The Bible Society of Ghana has turned to a Methodist choir who sing Psalms in a particular local traditional style as a way of introducing the country’s Fante- speaking ‘fisher-folk’ to Scripture.

The singers have specially recorded 10 Psalms in the local traditional style called ‘ebibinwom’, which is popular among Christians in the Central Region of Ghana where traditional religion and Islam are also strong. The local Fante-speaking singers, who perform as the Odorkor Ebibinwom Choir, also devised the arrangements.

The intended audience, the ‘fisher-folk’ and coastal people of Ghana’s Central Region, number about 600,000 and are known to practise polygamy and the kind of magic and sorcery known as ‘juju’.

The Society is hoping that distributing the special recordings of the Psalms to them will encourage them to discard their traditional beliefs and practices.

“The music cuts across faiths,” said Kofi Agamah, Publishing Process Officer of the Bible Society of Ghana. “This type of Scripture song can be used in church, at the beach, at parties, weddings, funerals, in hospital and in prison.”

He added that using the Book of Psalms was an appropriate way of reaching out to people because it was all about human problems.