Some members of the Gome Music Ensemble
The formidable Gome Music Ensemble is in Cote d’Ivoire for a three-day tour that will see them perform at major cultural and historical venues at Yamoussoukro, Grand Bassam and Abidjan from July 19 to 21.
Organised in collaboration with the Company of Dance Arts, an outfit that among other things promotes cultural exchange and understanding between Francophone and Anglophone countries, the tour which took off on Friday, July 19 at the beautiful Notre Dame de la Paix Basilica at Yamoussoukro, gave a wonderful insight into Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through music and dance.
It was a busy day for the ensemble members as they followed up with demonstrations at some selected high schools that afforded some young Ivorians a close-up interaction with the enthusiastic musicians, drummers and dancers from Ghana.
“We were highly impressed with the reception at our initial gigs. Everyone was thrilled with our dynamic repertoire delivered on atentenben flutes, xylophone, jonge, rattles, bells and a variety of African drums. We trust the rest of the shows will go equally well,” said the ensemble’s founder and leader, Fiawogbe Bismark Norkplim Kodzo.
The group will next give performances at the Grand Bassam Lighthouse, Musee de la Culture and the Grand Bassam National Park today, Saturday, July 20, as they push on with the effort to demonstrate excellence from Ghana and help further cement the strong cultural ties between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.
Gome Music Ensemble will round up their tour on Sunday, July 21 with appearances at the Abidjan Art Museum and the Abidjan National Library Conference Room.
They will play those two last gigs alongside the Abidjan-based Dzidzi Yeye Yorborbor Band International.
“We are including some of our new material on the tour. They are a lovely mix of Ghanaian and Ivorian rhythms,” said the band’s leader, adding, “They are pieces that demonstrate some of the common cultural identities shared by the two neighbouring countries.”
The Gome Music Ensemble, formed five years ago, believes there would be more opportunities in the coming months to enable them showcase the beauty and richness of Ghanaian and African culture to broader audiences.
By George Clifford Owusu