In a nod to the rich history of Ghanaian football, FIFA has added a special piece to their museum collection – the drum used by the Black Stars for their lively ‘jama’ sessions during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The iconic pre-match ritual of the Black Stars included players dancing, singing loudly, and playing the drums to get pumped up before games. Despite Ghana’s early exit from the tournament, the drum used for the ‘jama’ has now found a new home in the FIFA museum.
A post on the FIFA museum’s social media page confirmed the addition of the drum, stating, “Ghana players made their arrival to the stadiums at Qatar 2022 in style. This particular drum is now part of the FIFA Museum collection.”
This isn’t the first time that Ghanaian football memorabilia has been enshrined in the FIFA museum. Two years ago, the jersey worn by legendary striker Asamoah Gyan during the 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final game against Uruguay was also preserved in the museum.
Gyan, a key player for Ghana during the tournament, scored three goals, including the crucial winner in the round of 16 against the USA. Despite Ghana narrowly missing out on becoming Africa’s first semi-finalists, Gyan’s impressive World Cup performances solidified his place as Africa’s highest scorer in the tournament’s history, with six goals across three editions.
As we celebrate the rich legacy of Ghanaian football, the addition of these iconic items to the FIFA museum serves as a reminder of the Black Stars’ indelible mark on the world stage.
