Wetland voices at midnight, Ghana

May 04, 2023, 04:15 PM

Repetitive and prominent clicking sounds of frogs in the left and right channels and a layer of constant and intermittent singing of 3 species panned to the right channel in space.

Aesthetically, this recording has the feel of an orchestral arrangement where species join in to sing at certain frequencies at different times. The stereo-field is vidid and one can recognise the placement of the voices. There is also a sudden appearance of a motor engine with low frequency sounds. 

This particular location, space or settlement could have been used for educational purposes for future generations to:

I. Learn about the importance of wetlands and aqua-habitats to the ecosystem. 
II. Document individual species and ecological functions on site. 
III. Observe and research the sonic structures, communication complexities and the meaning of communication of the species. Unfortunately, this is not possible due to human settlement/encroachment on these lands which will render the species and its accompanying soundscapes extinct in a year or two. On the other hand, preserving this recording will serve as a useful material for generations to come and learn how the extinction of these wetlands and its species has affected biodiversity in the neighbourhood and would also preserve an aural memory of the space. Schools in the community, Ghana and the world are a major target for awareness on this ongoing environmental crisis through sound archives and with a caution that building on wetlands and waterways not only causes wetland species to go extinct, but also human lives and properties are lost due to constant flooding. 

Recorded by Samuel Kudjodzi.