Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a three part series on Ghanaian jama (gyama)and
Ghanaian jama sessions. Part II of this series features videos of the Ghanaian football (soccer) team, the Black Stars, singing jamas.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/ghanaian-jama-gyama-definitions.html for Part I of this series. 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.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/10/examples-of-non-religious-jamas-from.html for Part III of this series. Part III of this series showcases videos of secular (non-religious) jama songs and jama sessions from Ghanaian secondary schools (high schools), colleges, and universities. Two videos of Jamas from Allan Family, a Ghanaian band, are also featured in that post.
The content of this post is provided for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
Thanks to the Ghanaian Black Stars for sharing their custom of singing jama with the world. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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MY SPECULATIVE DEFINITIONS FOR THE GHANAIAN TERM "JAMA" (GYAMA)
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, and maybe also as an adjective or 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, a double noun (or an adjective + a noun?)
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, jumping up and down, dancing (for example: , Azonto, Kpanlogo), males waving shirts or flags, etc.
**
Jama, a double noun (or adjective + a noun?)
descriptive of the type of music or songs
Additional speculative definitions and comments can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series. Additions and corrections are welcome.
*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". One definition for American "jam session" is "a meeting of a group of musicians, especially jazz musicians, to play for their own enjoyment."
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SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.
The comments are given in chronological order, except for responses. However, they may not be in consecutive order.
Example #1: Ghana players singing the night before AFCON opener
GhanaFA's channel, Uploaded on Jan 24, 2012
Ghana players singing the night before their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Botswana in Gabon.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2012
infinite light
"beautiful real human connection! can anyone tell me what are they singing, the meaning? beautiful! peace !"
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Atlas24gh
in reply to infinite light
"@rlpedroso many different songs actually. Its basically Pentecostal praises"
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Julia Boadi-Damptey
in reply to infinite light
"@rlpedroso They're singing a series of praise & worship songs . It's our way of blessing the game , making it go in our favor ."
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yeahjunior94
"They finished this Jama with the best song for the tournament! Ghana is going to win indeed"
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gsnyarko
"asamoah gyan the choir master"
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BlazerMax
"More VIM!!! Jama your way to the Finals! Go Go Go GHANA!!!"
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Nomaaay18
"thumps up for Gyan's amazing voice...good team spirit lads, Gods with us....lets goooooo"
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TheGroovybabe
"when praises goes up blessings come down. God bless THE PEOPLE OF GHANA AMEN"
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arpu2007
"I love the last song when I was back in Liberia we use to sing that song for hours b4 a game..."
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Atlas24gh
"they have to pass this bonding medium to the younger generation coming up..as most of them are being reared in European football academies and have missed significant years growing up somewhere else...Jama Gospel is very important to us..we're Ghana!!"
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AngelMaAdj
"It's a sure win.. It's all about winning.... I'm feelin the Jama.... GH got your back! Go make us proud!"
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evans boating
"awesome video of our blackstar, they make my day, real jamma paa, God bless our homeland Ghana"
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Kwame Nsor
"Great jama of praise ..hey, instrumentalists superb!"
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Mraaa4u
"wow! Gyan is actually a good singer. @6:53-6:54 dude hit a B4 in chest voice. That's a pretty high key. Anybody who is musically inclined will understand this."
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Kennethab13
"Cant help but smile all the way through!!! Ei Asamoah Gyan jama leader!! And Dede Ayew too dey sing some?? lool Gotta love BlackStars!!
GH STAND UP!!"
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K400PASCAL
"Asamoah Gyan>>>Choir Master
Jonathan Mensah>The Drummer Boy
Daniel Opare >>>>The Azonto Dancer
J Mensah/Painstil >Gongo beaters
Vorsah/Kwarasey >Main Clappers
John Boye/Inkoom>Recipient Vocalists
Others>>>>>>>>>Dancers/clappers/Vocalists
For you to join the black Stars you got to have one of these talents added to your playing ability. No wonder i dont see some particular players invited.lol"
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K400PASCAL
"damn ive already watch dis lyk 20X already.i jst lyk how blackstars always start every tournament with a jama lyk this."2010"world cup they did de same thing.it brought bck sum memories too.during high skool yrs we used to do de same.this's wht ghana is all about uniting in good spirit to conquer one aim.Apart frm Bafana Bafana who sing minus de instrument no country i repeat no country does this(not i know of).Proud to be a ghanain period."
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miniwutang
"What a video! makes me wish i was a Ghanaian! Nigeria dont do this!"
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sarauniyaGH
"@MsTinny15 Isn't it!? That's how Ghanaians are, no matter what we believe in or worship we all come together as one.. always! I myself, am pretty amazed! Ghanaians simply have to be one of the most peaceful, loving people on earth! SO proud of Ghana -3"
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2012
[I can’t find the comment that prompted this response]
Eugene Petit
in reply to James Dadzie
"you are wrong mate. This is purely cultural. I've been to Ghana and During the Ashanti regional Inter-colleges athletics competition, they sing the same way.The man I visited was teacher at Kumasi High School, beautiful choruses they have. Its also done in south Africa, Botswana etc. I assume you are Ghanaian? because you dont appreciate the culture"
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Example #2: Asamoah Gyan led Black Stars players in JAMA at AFCON 2012
Bigscout Swag, Uploaded on Jan 27, 2012
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2012
vwoke
"This is fantastic. African culture is a beautiful thing.
Love from a Nigerian sister. X"
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girlsprefect
"the jembe player is good"
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2013
TheBettysc
"Love this African traditional music"
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Samuel Appiah
"it is called jama"
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nana boadi
"i like the morale "
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kofi atta atta
"ibi soo..uve rili got the ACCRA ACA JAMA SPIRIT IN U"
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Example #3: Black Stars Jama session ahead of Niger game
David Klogo Published on Jan 28, 2013
Black Stars Jama session ahead of Niger game
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Example #4: Ghana Black Stars - Never Say Die (Team Spirit) Jama Session
Ghana Music & Entertainment Media Published on Jun 19, 2014
Ghana Black Stars (Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup) Fifa World Cup 2014 Brazil (Ghana vs USA) (Ghana vs Portugal) (Ghana vs Germany) (Fifa World Cup 2014)
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Example #5: Ghana players singing before the game against Germany
Tomodachi™, Published on Jun 22, 2014
Ghana players sing before the game against Germany
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
Sarah Winful, 2014
"FATHER YOU HAVE THE POWER is what they are chanting."
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Example #6: Black Stars sing ahead of Guinea clash
GHANAsoccernet, Ghana, Published on Oct 15, 2014
Black Stars sing in Tamale a day before their clash against Guinea in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
-snip-
Selected comments from this video's discussion thread:
2014
Leonardo Siciliano
"Beautiful!! What is the meaning of?"
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Bernard Anyan - Mensah 1
"Singing praises to the Most High God asking for His protection and success in the next match."
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2015
Evans Arthur
"They are singing gospel songs to praise God in ghana's local language"
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Example #7: Ghana players in attractive singing on stadium ahead of 2015 AFCON game against Algeria
GHANAsoccernet Ghana, Published on Jan 25, 2015
Ghana Black Stars players arrive in stadium in high spirits ahead of their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations clash against Algeria which they won 1-0 showing unity in the team
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