"Aboakyer", as the author himself succinctly describes in the Prologue to the book, is "a fictional musical play based on the history and culture of the Effutu people of Ghana". In Derkyi's words "it is a tale of cultural evolution, of conflict between indigenous tradition and external cultures, of intrigues and human weaknesses, of chivalry and of sleeping lions goaded into action, of gender based issues, environmental preservation, and of conflict and conflict resolution all wrapped up together". There is little that can be added to this pithy and eloquent synopsis of this work. The book unravels the mythology behind what is now popularly known as the "Winneba Deer Hunt Festival" which has achieved the status of a major national festival. While the author disclaims any intention to write an authentic historical piece, this "fictional musical play", an enthralling literary work, perhaps achieves a lot more than a straightforward historical tract would have accomplished. The central theme of the play is the author's masterly portrayal of the evolution of the "hunt" from its origins as a gruesome and brutal combat between deadly rivals to a benign sporting contest between high-spirited, competing asafo companies, which has become a major tourist attraction. Furthermore the fiction actually revolves around certain historical facts which, while tracing the origin of the hunt, also enlighten the reader about the customs and cultural values of the Effutu People. The book is in fact a study in anthropology in which the indigenous customs blend with modernity. The author presents the reader with graphic and delightful accounts of the daily activities of a coastal community, such as the ritual of casting and pulling of fishing net, the climbing of coconut trees by adventurous youth and the intriguing technique of chasing wily crabs from their holes on the beach. These coastal chores and pastimes are contrasted with the arduous task of hunting in thicket-infested bush or forest for wild animals. The author's portrayal of culture includes the indigenous as well as the modern. Culture is a comprehensive concept dealing with all aspects of life, some of which are the products of modern adaptation and growth. The play is cast against the background of traditional system of governance with its full complement of intrigues, conflict and conflict resolution. The theme of combining tradition with modernity is thrown into sharp relief by the introduction of a Christian church, complete with a full choir, to temper the rigors of traditional practices, a technique which is hardly surprising since the author is the manager of the celebrated Winneba Youth Choir. NANA SUSUBRIBI KROBEA ASANTE (Dr, S. K. B. ASANTE) OMANHENE OF ASOKORE TRADITIONAL AREA & CHAIRMAN, GHANA ARBITRATION CENTRE
About the Author: Derkyi holds a bachelors degree in Social Studies from the University of Ghana. He pursued a career in Banking and Finance, retiring as Deputy Managing Director of the HFC Bank (Ghana) Limited. His hobbies are Electronics and Music. He is the Chairman of the Winneba Youth Choir and President of the Ghana Art Music Society, and a past Advisor on Africa to the International Federation For Choral Music. Derkyi is listed in the International Who is Who in Finance, and in the maiden issue of Who is Who in Choral Music.