A feature by Edem Kwaku Akpornorvi
Ho, Feb. 4, GNA – The study of traditional Ghanaian music and dance, a rich and valuable academic discipline, has unfortunately been dismissed by some sections of the public as irrelevant, using the respected field of ‘Dondology’ in such derogatory terms.
This has discouraged many talented and intelligent Ghanaians from embracing their cultural heritage, creating a barrier to preserving and celebrating the profound knowledge embedded in these art forms.
Dr Sylvanus Kwashie Kuwor, the former Head, Department of Dance, University of Ghana, in his book “Agbadza Dance of the Anlo-Ewes” laid the blame at the door of the colonial masters.
“The colonisers regarded Ghanaian and African arts in which one finds the most dynamic expressions of the African way of life, as acts of paganism, barbarism, and heathenism,” he said.
In a seminar presentation at the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Ama Oforiwa Aduonum, a Ghanaian-born dondologist, performance artist, and literacy advocate from Illinois State University, said music and dance play a crucial role in transmitting knowledge and values across generations, serving as powerful mediums for cultural expression and education.
During the presentation, titled: “Dondology: Repositioning an African-Centered Field of Study,” which was enriched with techniques from ‘anansesem,’ the Akan storytelling tradition, she urged theatre practitioners and scholars to be fierce and unapologetic in their bid to promote the study of traditional Ghanaian music and dance.
“A dondologist must be fierce and unapologetic,” she stated.
Why study traditional Ghanaian music and dance?
Togbi Damadzi IV, Chief of Anloga in the Volta Region, and music and dance scholar at York University, known in private life as Professor Modesto Mawulolo Amegago, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said traditional music and dance were essential components of people’s way of life, serving as vital expressions that convey societal values.
“Music and dance are integral parts of our way of life. They are ways through which we document our socio-historical, economic, religious, political, and cultural values,” he noted.
Togbi Damadzi emphasised that traditional music and dance serve as a form of communication, transcending verbal language and enabling individuals to express their emotions, thoughts, and social connections through movement.
“We express our message, communication skills, grievances, creativity, imagination, and artistic expressions through our Indigenous music and dance.”
He said music and dance have satirical roles, adding; “Some of the songs accompanying the dance discuss governance or politics, and some ridicule the government of the day.”
Music and dance play significant parts in assigning and reinforcing gender roles within various cultures.
Dances such as “gakpa” and “Togo atsia” are primarily associated with men and women, respectively, within the Ewe ethnic group and “in most Ghanaian communities, dirges, lullabies and cradle songs are mostly performed by women,” he said.
From the earliest days of civilisation, music and dance have been a powerful tool for healing the body and soul. The 2020 study by Alexa Sheppard and Mary C Broughton, “Promoting Wellbeing and Health Through Active Participation in Music and Dance: A Systematic Review,” published in the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health and Well-being, suggests that active participation in music and dance promotes an individual’s health.
“Actively participating in music and dance is an effective means through which individuals and populations can maintain and promote wellbeing and health across the life course.”
Togbi Damadzi said that the songs and the drum language accompanying those dances possessed therapeutic qualities and “the beats of the drum also heal.”
Studying traditional music and dance helps “shape talents” and prepares individuals for diverse professional paths.
He advocated the renaming of traditional music and dance programmes at the universities.
“We can rename the programmes as Performing Arts and Cultural Studies or Anthropology or Anthropology and Performing Arts,” he said.
Togbi Damadzi said the study of music and dance encompassed an exploration of the cultural, historical, and social lives of indigenous people.
Dealing with the stigma and renaming the field
Mr David Dontoh, a seasoned Ghanaian actor and television personality, has commented on the controversy surrounding the term “dondology” being used in derogatory terms.
He drew an intriguing connection between “dondology” and the “dondo” or “donno”, a double-headed armpit-squeeze drum, used by many ethnic groups in Africa.
Rather than viewing “dondology” negatively, Mr Dontoh suggested that it should be seen as a symbol of the African Continent and its rich cultural heritage.
“The name ‘dondology’ represents what we do in Africa”, he said.
Inclusion in the curriculum
Professor Aduonum urged the National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NaCCA), under the Ministry of Education, to take proactive steps to integrate the study of traditional music and dance into the school curriculum.
“Having them in our classrooms validates and legitimises them. They instill pride and confidence in their homegrown knowledge. They must be intentional and deliberate, careful, and rigorous. They should be tested during exams, BECE, WASSCE,” she said.
The need for teachers and experts
Although syllabuses exist for schools, the implementation of programmes proposed in them has been very unsuccessful due to a lack of competent teachers to deliver at various levels.
Mr Daniel Sarpong, the Volta Regional Cultural Officer of the Ghana Education Service, lamented the lack of teachers or experts to handle these subjects at the pre-tertiary institutions.
“What we need now is the experts to teach the traditional music and dance,” he said.
Mr Sarpong disclosed that music is now part of GES-approved courses and urged teachers to enroll in music courses at the university.
“Music is now part of study leave with pay courses in GES,” he said.
A reflection and call to action: Why should we abandon our rich cultural heritage?
Our knowledge, philosophies, and values are intricately tied to our cultural expressions like music and dance.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) should prioritise the integration of these subjects into the educational curriculum. This approach is essential for indigenising education and decolonising the mindset of Ghanaian citizens.
Support from the government, non-governmental organisations, and individuals is crucial for the research, documentation, and teaching of traditional Ghanaian music and dance. By preserving these cultural elements, we can foster a sense of identity and continuity among future generations.
GNA
(Edem Kwaku Akpornorvi is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ghana)