CULTURAL STUDY OF SISAALA ZENSI

Abstract

The xylophone is a vital African cultural artefact, embodying ethnic historical narratives, sociocultural identity, and ancestral connections. While Ghanaian ethnomusicological research has predominantly focused on the Dagara, Birifor, and Lobi xylophone traditions, the Sisaala zensi (xylophone) of the Upper West Region remains underexplored. This study addresses this lacuna by investigating the cultural nuances of Sisaala zensi, employing Griswold’s cultural diamond model within qualitative ethnographic design. Data were gathered via field observations, semi-structured interviews, and photography from seventeen (17) veteran xylophonists and crafters, sampled through exponential non-discriminative snowball and expert purposive sampling techniques. Findings reveal the Sisaala zensi's mystical origin, crafting processes, and its central role in ancestral transitions and identity construction. Notwithstanding the established cultural significance of Sisaala zensi, its survival is threatened by religious stigma, neglect, and declining communal interest. The study concludes that the Sisaala zensi remains a powerful symbol of cultural identity but risks extinction due to the alarming decline in its cultural usage in recent times. To safeguard the cultural heritage of Sisaala zensi, the study recommends that the veteran Sisaala xylophone crafters and players should establish a legally recognised association such as Sisaala Xylophone Association (SiXA). The SiXA should lead community-based xylophone apprenticeship programmes in the Sisaala enclave, initiate annual Sisaala Xylophone Festival, and engage in regular media sensitisation campaigns. This helps to ensure intergenerational transmission of Sisaala xylophone traditions, preserving and revitalising its rich cultural heritage for the current and future generations.