Dance is the life of the African. It permeates all their social
and ceremonial activities. To the African, dance is a way of thinking, living
and communicating.
It forms an integral part of all vital facets of the life cycle.
We dance during childbirth, naming ceremonies, puberty, rites, marriage,
religious ceremonies, festivals etc. Dance teaches customs and history. Dr
Kwame Nkrumah brought Africans together through dance.
The Adowa dance is the most widespread and most frequently
performed social musical type of the Akan speaking people of Ghana.
The dance originated through the movements made by the antelope,
hence the name given to it.
The story behind the dance states that, there was a once a queen
mother in Ashanti called Abrewa Tutuwa.
She suddenly fell ill in the cause of her reign. The Obosom
(gods) was consulted and a request for a live antelope was to be used for the
sacrificial rites. It was alleged that, the asafo companies were promptly
detailed to the forest to look for the animal. On coming back, the people saw
to their amazement the antelope jumping and making very strange movements.
The people in an attempt to imitate the movement of the animal
as a sign of celebrating the queen mother’s health started the Adowa dance.
The dance was hence started by the Asafo companies. Since the
animal was sacrifice for the queenmother, the musical type soon was taken over
by the elderly women making the dance becoming women’s performance in several
Akan communities.
The few men that are seen basically handle the musical
instruments. Adowa in present day content can be located in Ashanti, Brong
Ahafo, Kwahu, Akim, and some parts of Akim, Abuakwa and among the coastal
Akans-Fantes where it is known as Adzewa (Adewa).
The dance has an economic significance to the people, in that
the costumes such as kente are hand woven by the people. The regalia or
ornaments such as anklets, golden rings and earrings etc. are produced by the
goldsmith.
The drums and other instruments used are from the woodcarver and
the blacksmith respectively. This keeps the people in of the community in
business and provide livelihood for them.
The culture of the people is also preserved through the dance.
