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| Town
criers broadcast messages to the citizens by walking to different parts
of a village and singing out the news to the inhabitants. Town criers usually
relay messages at night when everyone is back from the farm or market and
doing evening activities like bathing and eating dinner. Sometimes they
relay important news for the entire community. Perhaps a resident saw a
stranger in the forest and the chief wants to organize a group of youth-men
to investigate while at the same time warning women and children to be careful
when going to their farms. On the other hand, sometimes the news is very
personal. For example, someone might have had a chicken stolen and is asking
the thief to return it. Kpododo
literally means “beating the gonggong”—or cow bell.
This is how the town crier gets the attention of the people. He will ring
the gonggong a few times, assert that he is the town crier by reciting
a standard opening line. Inhabitants will take the hint and quiet down
so everyone can hear. People stop talking, and mysteriously enough even
crying children hush. Then he will relay the official message.
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