Ghanaian Art Music Composers: Sitsofe Kwame Ayi, A Church Music Composer in Perspective

John Francis Annan, Godfred Sackey & Portia Owusu (2024)

From historical roots in the castles, choral art music became entrenched within the fabric of various churches in Ghana, serving as a conduit for early Ghanaian composers to delve into music theory and composition. The significant contributions of these pioneers have inspired subsequent generations of church-based art music composers in Ghana, catalyzing the progressive evolution of the genre. Despite their profound contributions to Ghanaian musical heritage, church music composers like Sitsofe Kwame Ayi often remain overlooked within scholarly discourse and academic research. This underrepresentation diminishes the recognition of their artistic achievements and perpetuates a broader imbalance in the study of Ghanaian music history. In this study, the authors delve into the life and works of composer Sitsofe Kwame Ayi of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ghana. Through a biographical lens, the study examines four of Ayi’s compositions: “Ka Hwɛ” (Taste and See), “Kyerɛ Wo Dɔ” (Show Your Love), “Tie Bi” (Listen), and “Suban Pa” (Good Character). Employing a purposive sampling technique, the research centres on interviews and document analysis as primary instruments for data collection. Through analysis of Ayi’s selected compositions, the study illuminates the composer’s adept navigation of domiciled intercultural influences within his music.