Significance of dance in Ghanian culture

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.