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Basic 2 · Creative Arts · Thinking and Exploring Ideas

Music and Dance from Other Communities

In this topic you will talk about music and dances from different Ghanaian communities.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name dances from different communities
  • Name traditional instruments
  • Talk about performances you have seen

What you already know

  • Music and dance in our community (Basic 1)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Visual Arts
Sub-strand
Thinking and Exploring Ideas
Indicator
B2.2.1.1.1 – Explore own experiences to talk about performing artworks that reflect the history and culture of people in other Ghanaian communities

Introduction

At the National Theatre, dancers performed Bamaya from the north, Borborbor from the Volta and Adowa from Ashanti. Each dance has a story.

1. Dances of Ghana

Dances and their peoples
DancePeople
AdowaAkan (Asante)
ApatampaFante
KpanlogoGa
BorborborEwe
BamayaDagomba
TakaiDagomba
Dancers performing Adowa, Borborbor and Bamaya
Figure 1: Dances of Ghana Draw a dancer from one of these dances.Photos: Quami43, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Noahalorwu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sir Amugi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Instruments

Traditional instruments
InstrumentType
atumpan (talking drums)drum
gonjestringed fiddle
xylophone (gyil)struck wooden keys
axatsegourd shaker
gankoguidouble bell

New words

performance
Music, dance or drama shown to others.
talking drum
A drum that copies the sounds of speech.
xylophone
An instrument with wooden keys struck with sticks.
costume
Clothes worn to perform.

Summary

  • Ghana has many dances, like Adowa, Kpanlogo, Borborbor and Bamaya.
  • Instruments include talking drums, gonje and xylophone.
  • Performances tell the history and culture of a people.

Class activity: Rhythm Share

  1. Look at photographs of Ghanaian performances.
  2. Tell your group about a performance you have seen.
  3. Play a simple rhythm on the drum and shaker.

You need: Locally made drum, Gourd shaker, Printed photographs of Ghanaian, African performances

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Borborbor is a dance of the…

    • A. Ewe
    • B. Ga
    • C. Dagomba
    • D. Fante
    Show answer
    Answer: EweBorborbor comes from the Volta Region.

  2. 2. Which instrument copies the sounds of speech?

    • A. Talking drum
    • B. Bell
    • C. Shaker
    • D. Flute
    Show answer
    Answer: Talking drumAtumpan can "talk".

  3. 3. Bamaya is a Dagomba dance.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt comes from the north.

  4. 4. The gyil is a type of drum.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt is a xylophone.

  5. 5. Clothes worn to perform are a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: costumeThat is a costume.

  6. 6. Name two Ghanaian dances and their peoples.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. Adowa – Akan; Kpanlogo – Ga.Each group has dances.

Homework

  1. Ask an elder about a dance from your hometown.