Not too long ago, journalism was something reserved for a select few with the training and resources to break and proliferate compelling news stories - a system that many still consider to be the most accurate and reliable way to get their news. However, that basic idea, and crucial societal function, is experiencing a fundamental shift.

As daily Internet usage becomes increasingly universal, suddenly people have started going online, specifically to social media networks like Reddit or Facebook to get their news and print media syndications have begun to die off as a result. Nearly 60% of people use Facbeook as a recurring news source while magazines like Newsweek struggle to move a substantial number of magazines. The abandonment of print media was referred to as one of the biggest shifts in journalism and media outlets were forced to adapt to changing trends or face extinction. However, in light of recent events, it seems clear that people are not only changing their mind about where to get their news, but also who delivers it to them.

Citizen journalism refers to a wide range of activities in which ordinary people contribute information or commentary about news or events (citizen journalism; www.educause.edu/eli). Without the participation of the citizenry, there would not be anything called citizen journalism. The traditional media which hitherto was the sole custodians of news and information did not allow audience participation and this made the audience dormant. The traditional media is known for its legacy in the old ways of disseminating information to its audience. It involves the use of various media such as radio, television, newspapers or books. The information delivery is one way with little or no audience participation.

The social media is referred to as the means of interaction in which users create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Examples of these virtual communities include: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. These sites would not have been made possible without the development of web 2.0 technologies. Web 2.0 technology, which is an improvement on web 1.0, brings on board user generated content. This encourages users to be interactive with technology. The new media is defined as a 21^st century “catch all” term that is related to the internet and the interplay between technology, images and sound. (www.newmedia.org). The new media has the characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, interactive, and being often digital in nature. It does not include feature films and television unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity. (www.newmedia.org).

The new internet or social media has allowed the development of devices that enhance user interactivity. This new development is what has given rise to the ever increasing population of citizen journalists. It is very possible that the near future may witness the extinction of print media corporations; in favor of digital media corporations. Though many people still read news online that has been produced by traditional outlets, many users are now expressing that they feel the traditional outlets are 'too slow' or that their reporting has 'too much of an agenda'. While this attitude towards traditional media has been around for a long time, the prevalence of mobile devices that can record pictures, video and have constant internet connections, combined with the growing popularity of social networking sites have actually made it possible for people to produce and share news themselves .The term new media has been used contextually from time to time. It’s a cloud of technologies, skills and processes that change so quickly that it makes it a bit difficult to define. Cell phones in the 1980s were called new media but today this same term can apply to only a few digitally interactive cell phones such as Samsung Galaxy, Windows phones and Blackberry Phones. Certainly the new media has been an improvement on the old media and has improved on daily human interactions.

The activities of citizen journalists with the help of the social media have in a way affected the dominance of the traditional media outlets in terms of content and production of news information. What goes into information gathering and dissemination in the traditional media house entails a lot, it involves a lot more people than individuals who have the benefit of the new media. Now, the news making process is much easier than it was. The citizen journalist does not require a camera man, sound engineer, an editor, a writer and all that it takes to generate news; simply put the citizen journalist can be all this himself.  He or she uses tools that make it easier for him to upload news related content to the web.

The new media encourages audience participation than the traditional media houses. Applications such as blogs and wikis have made it possible for individuals to generate discussion. User friendly applications have helped formed virtual networks which people create and share news content with their virtual followers. People nowadays do not wait for the next day’s dailies to catch what is in the news; They rather jump on to social networking sites to check the news.

There’s only one way for the traditional media to survive and that way is to adapt to this new trend. They have also taken advantage of the new media to encourage users to submit content. CNN i-report invites comments from viewers. The BBC has a dedicated social media staff which is responsible for these contributions and check the veracity of the content submitted by these users. The traditional media houses have embraced this challenge by also operating online, training online reporters and engaging in crowd sourcing. Major news networks have online pages, facebook pages, twitter pages and blog accounts that feed the online market, The BBC for example out-doored 60 blogs in 2005 including that of ace political reporter, nick Robinson. Mechanisms have also been put in place to filter the news that comes in as libel laws cover internet. The BBC invited images of the dramatic snowfall in February to see what readers were expecting.

THE TALKING DRUM - ATUMPAN DRUM

           The drum is said to be man's oldest musical percussion instrument. It comes in all shapes and sizes. The concept of drums are as old as mankind. A drum is called a membranophone, or an nstrument that creates sound by striking a stretched membrane with some type of object, usually a rounded stick. Drums consist of a hollowed-out piece (the body), a membrane stretched over the drum, and tuning pegs or keys to tighten or loosen the membrane to achieve different tones. While most people may think that the body of a drum produces the sound, it is in actual fact the membrane and its vibration that creates sound when struck.

The Atumpan drum is the main talking drum of the Akan people. It is the most favoured instrument to play the bass part to accompany dancing. The atumpan is played in pairs by the master drummer using two angular sticks. The atumpan is an open goblet drum on a base. The membrane is stretched across the head of the drum inside a metal ring, which is anchored to 7 or 8  conical pegs. The atumpan measures approximately 1m n height and has a diameter of 45cm at the top. Because of its weight it is placed in a wooden stand at an angle during play. Alternatively two long wooden sticks are inserted in two holes where conical pegs go.

Among some people, like the Sissala people, a stick is hammered into the ground and the two drums are secured with ropes. The atumpan is made from one single piece of wood. It is open at the bottom and the base is much narrower than the main body of the drum. During parades, one person carries the atumpan on their head whilst the second person walks behind and plays it.

The two atumpan drums are tuned to each other . The lowest tone is identified with the mother and symbolizes woman. The highest tone is identified with man. These two sounds are needed to send signals from one village to another. The Akan is a biotonal language with a middle tone. The atumpan is therefore ideally suited to send messages. The sound of the drum is determined by the size of the drum; the larger the drum, the larger the membrane and the lower the sound. The atumpan is played with two wooden sticks and the membrane can be damped  with the palm of the hand or struck with the fingers.

Traditionally, the drums are adorned with decorative elements derived from the Adinkra symbolism for example Gye Nyame, Afenan, Adwo, Wawa aba and Sankofa. Some drums are covered with fabric with geometric figures such as diamonds and rectangles. It can be painted with blue or grey paint. In some instances, the natural colour of the wood is preserved. The atumpan drum is made from the hard durable wood of the Tweneboa tree. The membrane can be made from goat skin, deer skin, antelope skin and cow skin. The atumpan is considered sacred by the Ashanti, who attach no blood, skulls or jawbones to it.

A pair of Atumpan drums

WOOD CARVING

In our environment we are surrounded by trees. Trees are sacred expressions of the Creator. Trees are living organic creatures which possess great strength and beauty. Wood is obtained from trees which is an essential raw material used for carving. We depend on trees for wood which in turn provides us with warmth, shelter and fuel.

Since ancient times in Ghana, trees have been known to be the dwelling place of supernatural spirits and powers. In the past, before a tree is felled, special purification rites were performed. The carver had to pay some amount of money and a bottle of schnapps. These items were given to family heads or owners of the land for purification rites to be performed. Also, when a carver acquired a new set of tools, special rites had to be performed to pacify the tools and to solicit good and cordial relations as well as support from the deities. Strong alcoholic drinks (schnapps) were poured on the ground and special prayers were offered. This had to be done before the carver could proceed to use the tools.

There are several species of trees in Ghana. In my quest to learn more about trees used for carving, i travelled to Aburi in the Eastern Region where wood carvers can be found in nearby villages. Types of wood used in carving include ''Sese'' which can be found in Oda, Suhum, Asamankese and Konkonuru. There is '' Ebony'' which can be found in Ho and Gyasikan all in the Volta Region of Ghana. ''Cider'' which can be found in Asamankese, Obuadaka and some villages in Aburi. Others such as ''Ofuntum'' can be found in Asamankese and ''Mahogany'' can be found in Aburi. ''Tweneboa'' is a sacred tree which means 'drum tree' can also be found in Asamankese, Suhum Nfranta and Asesieso.  Other types of wood include Afromosia, Odum ''iroko'', Cedrela and Sinuro.

Inset:Tweneboa

Inset: Osese

First and foremost to obtain wood, the carver may decide to fell the tree himself and cut it into logs. The carver may also choose to purchase wood. The cost of wood starts from GHC50.00 and  above depending on the type of wood. The logs are cut into sizes of 6 inches and above depending on what the carver intends to use it for. The logs are kept in a vehicle and transported to the work area. The carver may decide to commence work on the fresh wood immediately or at his convenience. The logs are split with an ax and the design the carver wishes to achieve is sketched on the wood with a pencil. Tools used by the carver includes flat chisel, V-gouge and U- gouge.

Once the object is carved, it is placed outside to dry. Drying may take up to a week or more depending on the weight of the wood and the weather conditions. As soon as the object dries, sand paper is used to smoothen rough surfaces and edges. Once the object has the desired smoothness, the carver may decide to maintain the natural colour of the wood by applying neutral polish on the object. However , if the carver wishes to colour the object he prepares a mixture of potassiumpermanganate and water and applies it to the object. Also dyes of various colours can be used to colour the object.  Once the colouring is completed, sand paper is used to smoothen the object again. Finally, wax polish, lacquer or shoe polish may be applied on the object to give it shine and lustre.

Inset:Figurine with rough surfaces

Inset: Figurine with smooth surface

THE HISTORY OF WOOD CARVING IN GHANA

Carving is the analytic study of the medium using the requisite tools to remove unwanted parts to arrive at a final product which has been previously conceived in the storehouse of the mind. It requires the use of a particular set of carving tools in order to make the carving process easy and to realize the ultimate goal.  

In Ghana, wood carving started as a communal form of expression which was based on the ideas and ideals of a community or an ethnic group. Carving was done under the strict dictates of clan leaders, chiefs, religious leaders and other opinion leaders in the community. This did not allow for individual carvers to express their ideas and creativity. Nevertheless, carving has helped to sustain communal and social life in many ways. Carving has produced a variety of drums for traditional orchestra and ensembles and that has led the promotion of social cohesion, solidarity and entertainment.

A lot of household items such as those used in the kitchen were carved out of wood. Examples of these include mortars, pestles, ladles, wooden bowls. Others items carved out of wood also include combs, canons, doors, chairs, stools and linguist staff. Traditional games such as oware and toys such as wooden dolls.

Wood carving in Ghana began in the forest areas. This was partly due to the abundance of wood and also easy access to raw materials as well as the interest of the people in the profession. Wood carving was practiced among the Akans of Ghana. It was not practiced on a large scale but rather practiced by few carvers. This limited number of carvers was regarded as the privilege minority because they were so skillful. People also saw them as having been gifted with extraordinary talents from God. The few wood carvers were accorded great respect in the community. Akan wood carvers who were versatile in carving various forms of wood were called “Ohene Dwumfuor” literally translated as “The chief’s carpenter”. Akan traditional carvers were greatly feared and admired for their creativity and ingenuity.

As it was in the past, and as the carving profession progressed over the years, especially among the Akans, it has remained an exclusive preserve for males only. Males were seen to be gifted with special talents and hence were tasked to uphold the tradition. Females were not allowed to carve wood because it involved hard work but rather were made to sell carved objects. Today few women are wood carvers.  

 Inset:Drums

  Inset:Wooden Masks and figurines

 

Inset: Carved Bowls and Wooden Giraffes

INTRODUCTION TO WOOD CARVING

     WOOD CARVING   

Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on the chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object. This may also refer to the finished product from individual sculptures , to hand worked moulding forming part of a tracery. Some examples of wood carvings include drums, doors and wooden dolls etc.

METHODS AND STYLES OF WOOD CARVING

• Chip carving
• Relief_carving
• Scandinavian flat-plane
• Love spoon
• Treen
• Whittling

THE BASIC TOOL KIT FOR CARVING WOOD

• Carving knife: A specialized knife used to pare, cut and smooth wood. 
• Gauge: A tool with a curved cutting edge used in a variety of forms and sizes for carving hollows, round and sweeping curves.
• Coping Saw: A small saw that is used to cut of chunks of wood a once.
• Chisel: Large and small, whose straight cutting edge is used for lines and cleaning up flat surfaces.
• V-tool: Used for parting, and in certain classes of flat work for emphasizing lines.
• Veiner : A specialized deep gouge with a U shaped cutting edge.