"Kekeli Nedo!": The Influence of the Church on Musical Practices in Ghana

The church as an institution in Ghana has and continues to play significant roles in the social, cultural, and religious lives of Ghanaians. With regard to musical practices in Ghana, the church's influence cannot be over emphasized. The churches' philosophies, modes of worship, and musical traditions have all influenced music performance within both religious and nonreligious spaces in Ghana. Drawing on an array of published studies, song texts, interviews, and ethnographic explorations, this article surveys the three dominant types of Christian churches in Ghana and their attendant musical traditions in broad terms in order to expose the significant impact the church has had on popular musical practices in Ghana.