MASQUERADING AS COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF SIGMÀÀ AMONGST THE TAMPÚLMA, VAGLA, AND CHAKALE IN GHANA

Abstract

The Indigenous people of Tampúlma, Vagla, and Chakale have for their wellbeing many forms of communication media, one most sensitive forms of communication is their Sigmáá Masquerading. This study investigated the indigenous modes of communication in Sigmáá Masquerading relevant for youth education and transmission of knowledge. The study was purely qualitative and adopted the interpretivism paradigm as the research philosophy. Ethnography and phenomenological research designs were appropriate using the purposive and homogenous sampling techniques. The data was analysed using the tools of grounded theory, thematic analysis, time-trend analysis, and discourse analysis. Interview guide, focus group discussion guide and observation checklist were the instruments used for data collection. Data were analysed using thematic and cross-site analysis. The study found that kinesics, Spiritism, initiations, and symbolism were the nonverbal communication whiles proverbs, appellations, incantations, and riddles were the verbal communication media respectively common among the Tampúlma, Vagla, and Chakale in their Sigmáá Masquerading traditions. The study also discovered that there have been some changes in the Sigmáá Masquerading modes of communication over time. These changes have had psychological, sociological, and philosophical influence on the social, moral, ethics and general worldview of the youth. The study proposed that the myths surrounding Sigmáá Masquerading be demystified for public consumption and for ecotourism; that the song text, drum text, movement genres of Sigmáá masquerades be decoded for youth education and transmission of knowledge.