THE MOST POWERFUL INDIGENOUS DANCES IN WEST AFRICA.

 ADJOGAN: This is a royal dance performed by the princes and princesses of this department during the festivities at the royal palace. The dancers do not wear clothes, but attach a cloth to the chest and hold an iron stick along which small metal disks are spinning and making chimes. This kind of dance is being performed in the West Africa country called Benin.

The Adjogan dance

ADOWA  

Ghana is one of the countries in the sub-Sahara regions of Africa.  It is located on the west coast of Africa, approximately midway between Senegal and Cameroon. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of 27,499,924 as of 2017Ghana is a country with a diverse cultural heritage. It holds its culture in high esteem because its culture serves as a unifying force that binds all citizens and persons together. There are several unique cultures that are peculiar to Ghanaians. Ghana is made up of different ethnic groups. The various ethnic groups in Ghana serve as custodians of this cultural heritage. The cultures are expressed in dances, music, foods, clothes, naming ceremonies, marriage rites, puberty rites, funerals, agriculture, architecture, folklores, and others. Traditional dance is one of the cultures that is patronized very much in Ghana. All ethnic groups in the country have dances that are performed by members within and outside of their enclave. Ghanaian dances are done during ceremonies, festivals, recreational activities, work and war especially during the precolonial and colonial eras. There are different dances performed by various ethnic groups in Ghana. They include; Adowa, Kete, Bamaya, Bima, Boborbor, Kpalongo, Agbedza, Patsa, Homowo, Gome, Apatampa, and the like. The Adowa dance is performed by the Akan people in the southern part of Ghana who speak Twi as their native language. The Akan as the biggest ethnic group in Ghana has subgroups within it with a bit difference in how they speak their language and do other things that are common to them. The Akan people comprise the following subgroups: Ashantis, Fantes, Akuapems, Bonos, Denkyiras, Ahafos, Ahantas, Akwamus, Akyems, Kwahus, Twifus, Nzemas, Sefwis Aowins, Assins, Wassas just to mention a few.Oral history has it that, the dance originated in the early days of warfare when the Great Queen of the Ashantis (Abrewa Tutuwaa) was sick and the only way to get her healed was by getting a life antelope from the wild to pacify the gods and make her well again as revealed by the chief priest.

The Adowa dance

AGBADZA: is among the oldest musical types performed by the Southern Ewe of Ghana, Togo, Benin, and parts of Southwestern Nigeria. Agbadza is derived from an older war dance known as Atrikpui. As social and recreational music and dance, its performance is open to everybody in the community, irrespective of class, age, sex, and religion. There are other varieties of this musical type that have different names: Kini, Akpoka, Ageshie, and Agba– tempo being the main distinguishing factor among these varieties. There are five sections or movements in Agbadza's performance: 1. Banyinyi- a short introductory piece that is performed as a prayer to the gods and the ancestors, 2. Vutsortsor- the main dance section, 3. Adzo- a less-vigorous dance section, during which only the master drum, Sogo, accompanied by Gankogui and Axatse are used, 4. Hatsatsa- song cycle, during which topical, historical, philosophical, and reflective songs are performed accompanied by Gankogui and Atoke, 5. Vutsortsor- another round of the main dance section, which may last for several hours.

                              The Agbadza  dance                          

THE BATA DANCE: Is the most popular entertaining traditional dance among the Yoruba people of south western Nigeria. The bata dance can be performed as a part of festival or dance performance or use to dethrone or enthrone a kind or at a cultural festival. Although the Bata dance has become a national dance, it is said to be a ritual dance move mostly performed among the Sango worshipers.

The Bata dance

 ESkISTA  ETHOPIAS: An African dance renowned for using “intense shoulder movements” is an African dance form known as.  This rather “complex” dance is said to have originated from Ethiopia, a country located in Northeast Africa in a region called the “Horn of Africa”. This dance is essentially known for body movements that include rolling the shoulder blade and jilting the chest. Furthermore, this dance is considered to be more “technical” than most African dances.  In addition, this dance is generally performed to traditional “Ethiopian music”.

The Eskista dance

MANDINKA DANCERS are known for their arm movements and footwork, whereas Wolofs tend to emphasize their hips. It is the men who usually play the drums while the women dance, but sometimes men will also take part in the performance. This type of dancing is more of a community affair with everyone participating. In contrast, the special acrobatic male dance of the Fulas is more of a performance. Their ensemble consists of a lead flutist, a fiddler, and one or more drummers beating ringed fingers on calabash gourds placed on their chests. Each musician will take his  turn erforming acrobatic feats to the accompaniment of the others. These dancers often perform on weekends at various beaches such as Sanyang.

The Mandika dance