Understanding the Socio-Economic Landscape of Accra Through Sounds Experiences

A growing literature on sound and its various output has resulted in the creation of the field of Sound Studies. Technological advances have also made it possible to experience sound in novel ways. One of such digital outputs is the sound map which Levy-Landesberg (2021) defines as "the audio-visual representations of cities created by associating sounds and urban landmarks on a digital geographic map". From a socio-cultural perspective, sound maps have gained prominence in major cities worldwide, with global projects such as Radio Aporee existing since the early 2000s. In the Ghanaian context, sound-related studies tend to either focus on music or noise pollution from traffic or religious sounds. Whilst these are relevant, little attention has been paid to the correlation between sound experiences and social class. Using the city of Accra as a case study, this project chose ten locations each in the low-income and wealthy neighborhoods in the Accra metropolis. Sounds from these locations were recorded and mapped out, proving that, as, Baranzini and Ramirez (2005), Atkinson (2007), and Dale et al. (2015) demonstrated in their various studies, the quieter an area, the higher its economic and social value whereas the lower the income in a neighbourhood, the higher the noise levels. In addition to contributing to the literature on Ghana in an innovative way through a sound map, the sounds collected for this project also capture the essence of the Ghanaian society and its economy.