Interview with the composer

In the composer’s own words

My full name is Emmanuel Kwasi Afornorfe [Kɔsi Afɔnɔʄe]. But Norvor [Nɔvɔ] is what I use while composing. Well, I became a composer around 1978. I was just very young, around 29 years when I started composing. You said your older and younger brothers also compose? Yes. Really, our family, we are of that nature. Since our ancestors. When you compose, how do you think of the words? It comes to me. Even yesterday I had one, in the night. So it came to me. It only comes to me with the words. So, before we send it to the public, we get

a group whereby when it comes, in the earlier stage, we sit down. We go through the words and make some corrections, then we send it to singing practice. From there to the drumming. This is how it is. Who puts the melody to it? It comes with the words. Do you always have the same people who help you to fix the words? Oh yes. I get some of them who are, I mean, competent and I know if there is anything of the sort, I can call on them. As we are in the Society, women singers, they assist me. So at times I do call them. They come to me, we discuss things. We correct things, then we send it to singing practice. When you’re composing do you write down the words? Mmm, at times when it comes new, I have to put it on paper... Because maybe, while thinking about other things, I may forget some of them. So, when it comes new, I have to write it down before I invite my people...As we are sitting here, when it knocks, I can seize it. I have to carry on. It is a duty which God has given me, so I can’t deny it...when we are playing these our drums, oh [people] learn a lot from these songs...in case of mourning, or in case of some difficulties, people sing to...alleviate some burdens, you see. Or do memorize some things. This how it is. Is only you don’t know the Eʋe, you don’t understand Eʋe language. If you were to know, you would even like it more than me. Yes. Do you earn your living being a composer? Being a composer? Oh, we don’t get anything.... Hardly before we can get something very small. But we take it so. Really what is chasing you, if it does not return, you also keep on running, isn’t it? Something chases you, maybe a snake or something, you have to keep on running. But when it returns, then you have to stop. So once I’m a composer, every day I have to do it. You see. I can’t cease. What other job do you do? I’m a carpenter by profession. That is my main job. Do women compose as well? Women composers are not so many in the line of Kinka. They can be singers, but to compose is a different thing. I get them to assist me because they are having very good voices. They can keep the songs. They can memorize them... . Because when we get to the drumming ground, you don’t have to use paper. So it has to come to you, while the whole thing is going on. So such women, when we get them, we know that they are having a very good voice, then we choose them. So is very hard to get the composer in the family. Very hard. Scarcely. Tell me about your Society. What is it called? That is “Avenorpedo Lebene Society.” That is in Ashaiman. And then we get the big one here in the town [Avenorpedo], Dumenyo... So the society in Ashaiman...are most of its people from Avenorpedo? Yes, yes. Is it a large society? Is a big society. Mmm, at least 500 [people]. But here [in Avenorpedo], oh, more than 2000. If you have an event maybe a funeral or something, does everybody come? Yes. When it happens in Avenorpedo township, maybe a member dies over there [in Ashaiman] we bring the corpse down [to Avenorpedo]. Then both societies, we join hands, we do it once. Eih, we do. Normally what we do is that in this society, every member of the society, we contribute. When a member dies there is a special fund for that — for the burying of the corpse. This is what we normally do. That is why we formed the society. Are there other times that the society gathers? For any other things. Maybe someone is having a birthday, or outdooring a new child, or outdooring a society, or so many. So it is a benevolent society. Very broad. Even government can invite us to trade fair site, to art center, or so many places. We do perform. And since Michael left, things are okay. But... cost of living is becoming high, so some are not “in.” So...it happens to so many societies. They are not paying dues, see, so at times when the dues become more and more, and you fail to pay, then it means you are going out. But when you are paying it regularly, you know, you are among, you are within the society. Because money is the soul blood of the society. So well, we are also trying our best to [keep] the societies up. So things are going on smoothly. Both home [Avenorpedo] and over there [Ashaiman].

From an interview by Carinna Friesen (Avenorpedo, July 2007).