How is Adowa performed?
How is Adowa performed?
The adowa is a popular dance that is widespread among the Akan and is performed during funerals and public social events. An adowa ensemble comprises a lead singer, a chorus and percussion instruments. The dancers use a symbolic language, the different movements of their hands telling their own story.
What are Ghanaian drums called?
djembe
A djembe or jembe (/ˈdʒɛmbeɪ/ JEM-bay; from Malinke jembe [dʲẽbe], N’Ko: ߖߋ߲߰ߓߋ) is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa.
What is the meaning behind the Adowa dance?
The Adowa dance is a sign of expression that allows performers to communicate their emotions and feelings through their hands and feet. There are different hand movements performed for each setting, people will communicate positive emotions at weddings or engagements and negative emotions at funerals.
What are the instruments used for Adowa dance?
The instruments used in a classical Adowa performance are an atumpan pair of ‘talking’ drums, petia, which is a tenor drum, apentemma, a supporting drum, dondo (hourglass drum), adawuraa (bell), trowa (made of gourd rattles) and rhythmic handclapping.
Who brought Adowa?
Sutherland-Addy gave a different picture about the origin of Adzewa in Cape Coast. According to the tradition of the No. 1 Asafo Adzewa group, they were the first to be formed in Cape Coast. They claimed that it was through their female ancestor by name Kwaadua that Adzewa came to Cape Coast.
Is Adowa a recreational dance?
The coastal Adangme people also perform Adowa as recreational music (Nketia, 1963). Adzewa, on the other hand, is an occasional music and dance of the Fanti-Akan and Guan people of the Central Region of Ghana performed mainly during traditional festivals and funerals.
What instruments do Ghanaians use?
Bamboo flutes played with the drums, song and on their own.
- Atumpan: A pair of male, female talking drum.
- Dawuro: Slit Bell for adowa and kete.
- Donno: Hour glass drum played by the stick and armpit control technique.
- Firikyiwa:
- Fontomfrom:
- Prepensua:
- Seperewa:
Do men dance Adowa?
It was done by only women but men can also do it now. The instruments used in a classical Adowa performance are an atumpan pair of ‘talking’ drums, petia, which is a tenor drum, apentemma, a supporting drum, dondo (hourglass drum), adawuraa (bell), trowa (made of gourd rattles) and rhythmic handclapping.
What is the history of Adowa dance?
Adowa is a traditional African dance by the people of Akan tribe in Ghana. The dance is said to have originated from the movement of antelope (Adowa in the Twi language). slaughter an antelope and use its blood as pacification for the restoration of the health of the Queen Mother. So some men were sent to the forest.
