Celebrating Dance Ghana Style

Friday, October 27, 2006

Celebrating Dance Ghana Style

Reading for this lesson:

Marya Annette McQuirter (1997). African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry. From Research Library database. (Document ID: 40040843).

Welsh-Asante, Kariamu (1990). Philosophy and Dance in Africa: The Views of Cabral and Fanon. Journal of Black Studies, 21(2), 224. From Research Library database. (Document ID: 2810860).

Optional Readings

Blum, Odette; Introduction By Kobla Ladzekpo
Dance in Ghana
Steven J. S alm, Toyin Falola Culture and Customs of Ghana

Blog assignment:

From what you have read in the lesson, discuss why Ghanaians use dance as a way to celebrate various life stages. How important do you feel precise movement is in dance rituals? Do you enjoy dancing and if so how do you feel when you dance?

Discussion Board:
Compare and contrast the meaning of dance for Ghanaians and Americans. Can dance show how someone is feeling emotionally? Do you feel dance is a good medium of communication? Why or why not?

In step with Ghanaian dance.
African dance is polycentric which means that all parts of the body interact in the dance. There is no stiffness and the movements are segmented into many different movements of the shoulders, legs, arms and even the chest. African dance and drumming go hand and hand; the movements of the body during African dance are in tune with every drumbeat. Dance is part of many rituals in Ghana ranging from Warrior dances, Love dances and Rites of passage and several other celebrations.

Weddings and anniversaries are celebrated in Ghana and many other parts of African with dance and if you ever visit Ghana you are sure to be welcomed with a dance. Indigenous beliefs are part of religion for many people in Ghana, and with these beliefs come many dances for spirits, deities, ancestors and plants. Kakilambe is a spirit of the forest, which is summoned by dance.
African culture embraces collective sensibility, which leads to a greater understanding of the importance of dance in Ghana. Every beat of a drum and every movement and every word sang are done together. One relies on the other to send a message of honor, happiness, love, and growth. This is a very important part of the everyday lives of Ghanaian people, being a collective community.

Who are the Ghanaians?

View a slideshow of Ghana dancing.

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/happigolucki74/?action=view&current=1162736198.pbw

Ghana's population is 22,409,572 and the official language is English. Ghana gained it's independence in March of 1957 and religions include Christian, Muslim and indigenous beliefs. The people of Ghana come from 6 major tribes, the Ewe, Gurma, Ga-Adangbe, Guan and the Ashanti/Fanti.

The Ashanti tribe is known for the beautiful crafts they produce. They specialize in pottery, Kente cloth, and fertility dolls. The Ashanti people are a matrilineal society and men perform almost all of the crafting work. The most performed ceremony is a funeral in which all members of the village participant, funerals last several days and funeral expenditures are a major part on the household budgets. The Ashanti tribe is the largest tribe in Ghana and nearly half of all Ghanaians are descended from the Ashanti tribe.

The Fanti tribe follow much of the same traditions of the Ashanti tribe, but they are mainly located in the coastal areas of Ghana. They were the first tribe to have contact with Europeans between 1880’s and the beginning of World War I. As a result of this contact the Fanti people took on many of the European customs.

The Ewe tribe is located in southeastern Ghana and specialize in livestock and some crafts. They are a tribe that has over 600 deities for which many of the ceremonies give honor to. The women of the tribe carry out most of the work.

The Ga-Adangbe tribe is found in the plains of Accra.

The Gaun tribe resides in the southern costal plains and they migrated from the Mossi region of Burkina around A.D. 1000.

Visit Abadja Rhythm and make your own Ghanaian Rhythm

http://www.aviarts.com/demos/flash/abadjarhythm/index.html

Here are a few of Ghana's many dances:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe7F0sPHq20 Ghana Dance Video 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxOgqTBf4Mg Ghana Dance Video 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AymsDjEfrk Ghana Dance Video 3

Awere Pa

This is a fairly new social dance of Ghana. It is a newer version of the Kpanlogo dance consisting of elegant and vigorous movement. This dance is performed at wedding and marriage rites and is very flirtatious in nature. Awere Pa means “good marriage” and is usually performed by the younger women of Ghana, this dance is done to attract the young men and they in turn choose one of the young women to be their brides.

Gahu

This dance originated in Nigeria, it's a recreational and colorful circle dance. Dancers wear headgear and robes and sing of being rich. It's a money dance that portrays status and beauty. Gahu means “jewel or “expensive” in Ewe language and the dance is very elegant and the movements are done with dignity and grace.

Courtesy of www.africanceremonies.com

Klama

A puberty dance of the Krobo people of Ghana, marking the transition from girl to woman. The movements of the dance are designed to highlight the beauty of the girls and it also highlights the movement of the hands and feet. Men watching from the audience will usually approach the girl’s family after viewing the dance to ask for her hand in marriage.

Fume Fume
This is one of Ghana’s most popular dances, it combines graceful jumps and kicks. Fume Fume is a social dance of the Ga Adangbe people and is performed for traditional and religious ceremonies. Fume Fume is an energetic, spiritually based dance of the Ga nation.

View a short video of a funeral Ghanaian funeral dance.
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/happigolucki74/?action=view&current=Binefuneraldance.flv

Agbadza
Ewe war-dance music currently performed in Ghana at funerals. It is one of the oldest dance performances. The dance is a revived version of an older war dance called “Atrikpui”. The Agbadza dance is open to everyone in the community and starts with slow movements followed by very vigorous movements by male and female dancers. The dance ends with circular movements that reflect the history of the Ewe people and the uniqueness of the people in the community, this part can last several hours depending on the number of dancers.

Damba
Originally danced at religious festivals, the dance is separated into 2 dances to honor the Prophet Mohammed one is a naming dance and the other is birthday dance. It is the major dance performed at the Damba festival to honor the prophet Mohammed.

'Damba Dance'

Painting done by Emmanuel Atiamo Yeboa

Kpanlogo
'Hi-life' music & dance style was created in the Capital city of Accra in the 1960’s. It was started by young people as a way to compliment their political views and was very controversial but it has gained popularity and acceptance as a social rhythm. Originally Kpanlogo was called "Lolo" after a characteristic movement of the body, focusing on the shoulders, that takes place in this dance.

Jera

Jera was orginally performed by the Kparibas in Dagbon as a religious dance performed before and after hunting . It is now performed for funerals, recreation and other social occassion by the Dagbamba of Northern Ghana. This dance involves wearing religious costumes.