Dagbon music and dance

Dagbani music and dance is a core tradition of the Dagbamba of West Africa. The Dagbamba speak the Dagbanli language. They are the dominant ethnic group in the kingdom of Dagbon found in the Northern Region of Ghana.^[1] Music and dance plays a central role in Dagbon. It is through these arts that the Dagbamba have preserved their history over the centuries. The Dagbamba regard dancing as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, a spiritual performance or even physical exercise that aids them articulate or illustrate ideas or tell a story. In most cases, music in Dagbon is accompanied by dancing in order to form a complete story.

Music in Dagbon

A weaver plies his craft at Flyboyiri (1957)

Dagbani music is best known for an extremely advanced drumming tradition^[who?], especially using the lunga and gungon.^{[citation needed]}

Dancing in Dagbon

Dagbon music is usually composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing.^[2][3]

The Dagomba tribal have different kinds of traditional dance which is facilitated by drummers who play different rhythms and the dancers move accordingly. Some of the traditional dances are popular and can be performed on any occasion while others are a reserve for special events and occasions such funerals, coronation ceremonies and during spiritual sacrifices.^[4] Each dance has special regalia but what is common is the smock, "kurugu" and the "muɣuri".^[2]

Some of the popular dance are as follows:

Takai

The Takai dance is the most common male dance^[5] which is performed in groups in concentric circles.^[6][7] The usual regalia for this special dance is the smock and "kurugu"-an extended trouser, a hat, metallic rods that's used for the clutching sound, "muɣuri" - a of show and some adornment of metals on the shanks of their legs to provide some rhythmic tune.^[8]

Baamaaya

Tɔra (Tora)

Contemporary Music and Dance

The Dagbamba have embraced and incorporated modern forms of music though traditional dagbani music and dancing can still be witnessed at formal congregations and at Universities around the world . Locally, it has become much easier to hear Dagbanli music in non-traditional genres like Reggae, Hip hop, Hiplife or Islamic music. On very rare occasions non-traditional Dagbanli music is blended with traditional elements such as drumming.

Modern artists who perform in Dagbanli include Sherifa Gunu, R2bees, Fancy Gadam, Macassio, Fadlan, Don Sigli, Sherif Ghaale, and Awal Alhassan.

The rhythm game series Just Dance features the sound track "Dagomba" in their games. Composed by Sorcerer, the song samples music of the Dagomba people.

The following sound engineers that are helping in producing the "Dagomba" rhythm are Blue Bratz, Dr. Fiza, Stone B, Ojay Dramz, and many more.

See also

• Kambon-waa
• Damba festival