Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a three part series on Ghanaian jama (gyama)and
Ghanaian jama sessions.
Part I includes my speculative definitions of the Ghanaian meanings of the word "jama" (gyama) with examples from YouTube discussion threads. Part I also features an excerpt from a Ghanaian article that mentions gyama. That article includes two text examples of jamas.
Part II of this series features videos of the Ghanaian football (soccer) team, the Ghanaian Black Stars, singing jamas.
Part III of this series showcases videos of secular jama songs and jama sessions from Ghanaian university and colleges and from a Ghanaian music group.
Both of those posts will be publishes ASAP.
The content of this post is provided for informational and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
MY SPECULATIVE DEFINITIONS FOR THE GHANAIAN TERM "JAMA" (GYAMA)
Disclaimer: I searched for but found no definitions online of Ghanaian jama (gyama) and jama sessions (gyama sessions) or jama (gyama) songs. The only article that I found which included information about Ghanaian jamas is the one which is excerpted below.
These speculative definitions are my conclusions from reading that article, from watching all the videos on Ghanaian jamas that are currently published on YouTube, and from reading all the comments that are found in those videos' discussion thread. (Note: Some of those videos have no discussion thread, and the videos that do have a discussion thread only have a small number of comments.)
I don't speak or read any language other than English and I just learned about Ghanaian jama sessions, and jama songs yesterday. (Read my comment in the section below as to how I happened to look for videos of Ghanaians singing jamas).
Additions and corrections to these speculative definitions would be greatly appreciated. I'm particularly interested in knowing when (decades) the term "jama sessions" and/or "jama songs" was first used in Ghana and whether these terms are also used elsewhere in Africa.
Speculative Definitions For Jama:
In Ghana (and perhaps elsewhere in West Africa and/or Africa), the word "jama" ("gyama") appears to be a noun, an adjective, and maybe also as a verb.
Jama, noun
1. group morale, team spirit
Example: marisol ex, 2014
i love dis show it shows that in ghana we have more jama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRlx3sQg2uI GH Loudest "Won Shi Jama" Edition 3
**
Jama, noun or adjective
2. a place or an occasion where jama songs and other jama activity occurs; "a jama session"*, a "jama competition", a "jama celebration"
Example (Summary for the video whose link is given above) GH Loudest, a jama competition codenamed "won shi Jama" featuring 20 supporter groups in Ghana
-snip-
Note: Jama activity may be quite boisterous, and includes usually
uptempo [?], singing (or chanting ?) that can be accompanied by drums and other percussive instruments (beaded gourd instrument, iron bell), and/or horns, hand clapping, dancing (for example: jumping up and down, Azonto, Kpanlogo), males waving shirts or flags, etc.
**
Jama, noun or adjective
descriptive of the type of music or songs
Example: (summary statement of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrxeYKJ1xqo"Jama - Allan Family ")
Jama music from Accra Ghana.Ghana music,west african music.
-snip-
Note that jama songs can be either secular or religious, depending
on the occasion, and place that they are performed. According to some comments in the discussion threads on university jamas, some secular jama songs are quite raunchy (dirty).
**
Jama, noun or adjective:
Example: Sophia..We dont have titles for these songs..They are random songs we use in our jaama celebrations.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSCH2L_pNXk
Jama (gyama) songs - songs that help bolster group morale and foster group unity.
**
"Jama" as a verb:
More VIM!!! Jama your way to the Finals! Go Go Go GHANA!!!
-BlazerMax, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtSLINwBxs
Ghana players singing the night before AFCON opener
*Editorial comment:
It's important to also note that the Ghanaian term "jama sessions" doesn't have the same meaning as the American (United States) term "jam sessions". Two American definitions for "jam session" are
1. a meeting of a group of musicians, especially jazz musicians, to play for their own enjoyment.
and
2. an impromptu jazz performance or special performance by jazz musicians who do not regularly play together.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jam-session
That said, because both of those definitions focus on the group aspect of those sessions (musicians playing together), I wonder if the Arabic word "jama'a" which I think may be a source for the Ghanaian term "jama" (gyama) [read more on this below], might also be a source for the American term "jam" and "jam sessions".
Rather than being like American jam sessions, it occurs to me that the Ghanaian college/university jamas are quite similar in purpose and in (some) activities to American pep rallies, at least to how those pep rallies used to be (pre-1990s?) before they became quite scripted and imitative of dance shows and other talent shows.
A pancocojams post on American pep rallies will be published ASAP and its link will be included in this post.
**
Possible Arabic Origin Of The Ghanaian Word "jama":
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101118123704AAzLhUD
"Ramadan, what do these words mean? Fajr Jamah, Iftar ....?
Jamaah- Arabic word meaning “in group” (rather than individually)
Jamaah- Arabic word meaning “in group” (rather than individually)"
**
From http://flagbearersofislam.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-meaning-of-jamaah-of-muslims.html
Friday, April 1, 2011 What is the meaning of "Jama’ah of Muslims" ?
"Jama’ah is a term used quite loosely these days to mean ‘majority’. When someone refers to the Jama’ah of Muslims they usually mean the majority of Muslims in a particular country or city. Its usage becomes frequent before the two Eids when Masjids and groups start blaming each other for creating division among Muslims and separating them from the Jama’ah because of celebrating Eids on different days. Without going into a Fiqhi discussion about when to celebrate Eid and whether to sight the moon globally, locally or use calculations, let us look at what Jama’ah actually means in Islam....
“’The one who sees in his Ameer something which displeases him, let him remain patient, for he who separates himself from the community (Jama’ah) by even so much as a hand span and dies (in this state), he will die the death of Jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
In the above Hadith, distancing oneself from the Ameer (leader) of the Muslims is referred to as separating oneself from the Jama’ah."...
-snip-
My position is that the term "Jama'ah" meaning "community" or "majority" was extended to me that which foster community (group) morale and unity.
****
EXCERPT FROM A GHANAIAN ARTICLE THAT MENTIONS "GYAMA"
From https://www.modernghana.com/news/285425/1/reliving-interco-through-old-school-gyama-songs.html
21 July 2010 14:16 CET
"Reliving InterCo through Old School Gyama Songs"
By Esi Woarabae Cleland
"I know I'm always going on and on about how I didn't enjoy secondary school, and how I wish I'd gotten so much more out of the experience. But there is one aspect of life in secondary school that I can't get over. That I absolutely loved, and that I keep remembering.
InterCo.
Back in the day, I was an athlete. Not a fantastic athlete but an athlete nonetheless. Which means I got to go to all the InterCo, and Super-Zonals and Regionals...
Now a big part of InterCo is the gyama that goes with it. And I wasn't part of the gyama squad (yes, people, Gey Hey had a gyama squad), but I was always excited to join in the fun.
Even had favorites. So here are two of my favorites.
1.
What a mighty school gey hey
What a mighty school gey hey
Holy bow before us
Kwabotwe adore us
What a mighty school gey hey
2.
Augusco w'a we o
Augusco w'a we o
Kwabotwe w'edi first
Adisco w'edi second
Augusco w'awe o
Here's the translation for the non-twi speakers.
Augusco placed last
Augusco placed last
Kwabotwe placed first
Adisco placed second
Augusco placed last."...
-snip-
"Interco" probably means "Intercollegiate". The names given above are names of colleges, universities, or halls (divisions) of colleges/universities. [Additions and corrections welcome].
Notice that the songs include boasting and putdowns, two characteristics of a lot of African Diaspora music, including Hip Hop.
I found this entire article to be quite interesting from a folkloric standpoint. I recommend it to that those interested in the subject of Ghanaian culture.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part I of a three part series on Ghanaian jama (gyama)and
Ghanaian jama sessions.
Part I includes my speculative definitions of the Ghanaian meanings of the word "jama" (gyama) with examples from YouTube discussion threads. Part I also features an excerpt from a Ghanaian article that mentions gyama. That article includes two text examples of jamas.
Part II of this series features videos of the Ghanaian football (soccer) team, the Ghanaian Black Stars, singing jamas.
Part III of this series showcases videos of secular jama songs and jama sessions from Ghanaian university and colleges and from a Ghanaian music group.
Both of those posts will be publishes ASAP.
The content of this post is provided for informational and cultural purposes.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
MY SPECULATIVE DEFINITIONS FOR THE GHANAIAN TERM "JAMA" (GYAMA)
Disclaimer: I searched for but found no definitions online of Ghanaian jama (gyama) and jama sessions (gyama sessions) or jama (gyama) songs. The only article that I found which included information about Ghanaian jamas is the one which is excerpted below.
These speculative definitions are my conclusions from reading that article, from watching all the videos on Ghanaian jamas that are currently published on YouTube, and from reading all the comments that are found in those videos' discussion thread. (Note: Some of those videos have no discussion thread, and the videos that do have a discussion thread only have a small number of comments.)
I don't speak or read any language other than English and I just learned about Ghanaian jama sessions, and jama songs yesterday. (Read my comment in the section below as to how I happened to look for videos of Ghanaians singing jamas).
Additions and corrections to these speculative definitions would be greatly appreciated. I'm particularly interested in knowing when (decades) the term "jama sessions" and/or "jama songs" was first used in Ghana and whether these terms are also used elsewhere in Africa.
Speculative Definitions For Jama:
In Ghana (and perhaps elsewhere in West Africa and/or Africa), the word "jama" ("gyama") appears to be a noun, an adjective, and maybe also as a verb.
Jama, noun
1. group morale, team spirit
Example: marisol ex, 2014
i love dis show it shows that in ghana we have more jama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRlx3sQg2uI GH Loudest "Won Shi Jama" Edition 3
**
Jama, noun or adjective
2. a place or an occasion where jama songs and other jama activity occurs; "a jama session"*, a "jama competition", a "jama celebration"
Example (Summary for the video whose link is given above) GH Loudest, a jama competition codenamed "won shi Jama" featuring 20 supporter groups in Ghana
-snip-
Note: Jama activity may be quite boisterous, and includes usually
uptempo [?], singing (or chanting ?) that can be accompanied by drums and other percussive instruments (beaded gourd instrument, iron bell), and/or horns, hand clapping, dancing (for example: jumping up and down, Azonto, Kpanlogo), males waving shirts or flags, etc.
**
Jama, noun or adjective
descriptive of the type of music or songs
Example: (summary statement of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrxeYKJ1xqo"Jama - Allan Family ")
Jama music from Accra Ghana.Ghana music,west african music.
-snip-
Note that jama songs can be either secular or religious, depending
on the occasion, and place that they are performed. According to some comments in the discussion threads on university jamas, some secular jama songs are quite raunchy (dirty).
**
Jama, noun or adjective:
Example: Sophia..We dont have titles for these songs..They are random songs we use in our jaama celebrations.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSCH2L_pNXk
Jama (gyama) songs - songs that help bolster group morale and foster group unity.
**
"Jama" as a verb:
More VIM!!! Jama your way to the Finals! Go Go Go GHANA!!!
-BlazerMax, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtSLINwBxs
Ghana players singing the night before AFCON opener
*Editorial comment:
It's important to also note that the Ghanaian term "jama sessions" doesn't have the same meaning as the American (United States) term "jam sessions". Two American definitions for "jam session" are
1. a meeting of a group of musicians, especially jazz musicians, to play for their own enjoyment.
and
2. an impromptu jazz performance or special performance by jazz musicians who do not regularly play together.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jam-session
That said, because both of those definitions focus on the group aspect of those sessions (musicians playing together), I wonder if the Arabic word "jama'a" which I think may be a source for the Ghanaian term "jama" (gyama) [read more on this below], might also be a source for the American term "jam" and "jam sessions".
Rather than being like American jam sessions, it occurs to me that the Ghanaian college/university jamas are quite similar in purpose and in (some) activities to American pep rallies, at least to how those pep rallies used to be (pre-1990s?) before they became quite scripted and imitative of dance shows and other talent shows.
A pancocojams post on American pep rallies will be published ASAP and its link will be included in this post.
**
Possible Arabic Origin Of The Ghanaian Word "jama":
From https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101118123704AAzLhUD
"Ramadan, what do these words mean? Fajr Jamah, Iftar ....?
Jamaah- Arabic word meaning “in group” (rather than individually)
Jamaah- Arabic word meaning “in group” (rather than individually)"
**
From http://flagbearersofislam.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-is-meaning-of-jamaah-of-muslims.html
Friday, April 1, 2011 What is the meaning of "Jama’ah of Muslims" ?
"Jama’ah is a term used quite loosely these days to mean ‘majority’. When someone refers to the Jama’ah of Muslims they usually mean the majority of Muslims in a particular country or city. Its usage becomes frequent before the two Eids when Masjids and groups start blaming each other for creating division among Muslims and separating them from the Jama’ah because of celebrating Eids on different days. Without going into a Fiqhi discussion about when to celebrate Eid and whether to sight the moon globally, locally or use calculations, let us look at what Jama’ah actually means in Islam....
“’The one who sees in his Ameer something which displeases him, let him remain patient, for he who separates himself from the community (Jama’ah) by even so much as a hand span and dies (in this state), he will die the death of Jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
In the above Hadith, distancing oneself from the Ameer (leader) of the Muslims is referred to as separating oneself from the Jama’ah."...
-snip-
My position is that the term "Jama'ah" meaning "community" or "majority" was extended to me that which foster community (group) morale and unity.
****
EXCERPT FROM A GHANAIAN ARTICLE THAT MENTIONS "GYAMA"
From https://www.modernghana.com/news/285425/1/reliving-interco-through-old-school-gyama-songs.html
21 July 2010 14:16 CET
"Reliving InterCo through Old School Gyama Songs"
By Esi Woarabae Cleland
"I know I'm always going on and on about how I didn't enjoy secondary school, and how I wish I'd gotten so much more out of the experience. But there is one aspect of life in secondary school that I can't get over. That I absolutely loved, and that I keep remembering.
InterCo.
Back in the day, I was an athlete. Not a fantastic athlete but an athlete nonetheless. Which means I got to go to all the InterCo, and Super-Zonals and Regionals...
Now a big part of InterCo is the gyama that goes with it. And I wasn't part of the gyama squad (yes, people, Gey Hey had a gyama squad), but I was always excited to join in the fun.
Even had favorites. So here are two of my favorites.
1.
What a mighty school gey hey
What a mighty school gey hey
Holy bow before us
Kwabotwe adore us
What a mighty school gey hey
2.
Augusco w'a we o
Augusco w'a we o
Kwabotwe w'edi first
Adisco w'edi second
Augusco w'awe o
Here's the translation for the non-twi speakers.
Augusco placed last
Augusco placed last
Kwabotwe placed first
Adisco placed second
Augusco placed last."...
-snip-
"Interco" probably means "Intercollegiate". The names given above are names of colleges, universities, or halls (divisions) of colleges/universities. [Additions and corrections welcome].
Notice that the songs include boasting and putdowns, two characteristics of a lot of African Diaspora music, including Hip Hop.
I found this entire article to be quite interesting from a folkloric standpoint. I recommend it to that those interested in the subject of Ghanaian culture.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.