New Ways to Tell an Old Story

ACCRA, Ghana — Among the Ga people of the Greater Accra region, telling the Scriptures aloud as a story is part of an old tradition. The level of literacy among the two million speakers of the Ga language is generally low, and storytelling puts over the biblical message in a way that no other medium can.

“We hear our own language and that touches us,” says Seth Klu Sowah. “We can absorb so much more by listening than reading. It doesn’t take any effort to listen to a storyteller; it takes more to follow a Bible reading.”

He is one of some 26 participants in a workshop being held by the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) in a Ga community among the sprawling suburbs of Accra. The purpose of the workshop is to gather reactions to a recording produced by the Scripture cassette program ‘Faith Comes by Hearing’. The tape, which lasts about 30 minutes, consists primarily of a reading of the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, but also includes some traditional-style Ga music.

Input

Kofi Agamah, who co-ordinates Opportunity 21 projects in Ghana, says the days have gone when a Bible Society simply decided what kind of production was needed – and produced Scriptures which might be inappropriate as a result.

“Now we concentrate on developing Scriptures with support and input from the churches and the target audience,” he says. “We don’t proceed with publication until we have tested at least a part of the product.”

The music on the recording being tested features a choir of students from a school of performing arts, together with an organ and traditional instruments. Composers have been brought into the project to create music in the traditional Ga style.

Traditional

“Some modern singers have also tried this traditional style with some success,” says Victoria Abban, another participant at the workshop. “I believe that this approach will reach our young people because they have this music and storytelling in their blood. They have grown up with the tradition since they were small.”

Most of the participants admit that the tradition of storytelling is dying among Ga-speakers. But although it is rare to be able to find a storytelling session being held in the Accra area, when one does take place it can still evoke a response.

“Last year we tried storytelling on our church outing and it really inspired many people,” says Seth Klu Sowah.

The feedback gathered at the workshop is, on the whole, positive. The members of the Ga community voice their approval of the style, the music and the presentation of the recording, and their comments and suggestions will now be collated and, as far possible, incorporated into the production.

“At the end of this project we want to ensure that the churches have a really effective tool to teach people about the Bible and interest them in becoming more involved in Bible study and church life,” says Mr Agamah. (WR 356/6 - 12.00) [PHOTOS]