By: ENOCH DARFAH FRIMPONG


IT was a demonstration of rich Ghanaian culture when various performing groups from different regions took their turns to showcase and entertain patrons at this year’s National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFAC) in Kumasi last week.

Traditional drumming and dancing were common as each region took its turn at the regional events of the festival. The first three days were dedicated to performances from Volta, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Upper East, Greater Accra and Western Regions.

Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi, Omanhene of Acherensua Traditional Area who was adorned in gold ornaments and a beautiful Adinkra cloth sat in a palanquin amidst fontonfrom to lead the delegation from the Brong Ahafo region to the durbar grounds whilst Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area and the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs led the delegation form the Volta region to the durbar grounds amidst boboobo. Togbe Gabusu was adorned in a rich kente cloth.

After the exchange of pleasantries, it was the Klikor Women’s Kpegisu Troupe that set the performances underway with the kpegisu dance. The dancers, wearing beautiful beads on their necks, wrist and ankles showed a series of stylistic movements, taking steps forwards and backwards, to the beat of a lead drummer.

That was followed by a boboobor performance by the Have Number Two Baboobo Troupe from Hohoe. The dancers, particularly the women among them expressed their artistic abilities to the administration of the audience. The way and manner they wriggled their waists whilst bending to the rhythm of the drums as they sang was a delight to watch.

A troupe from North Tong followed with an agbadza dance which was beautifully delivered by the dancers. No wonder the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi was moved from his seat to join the dancers. The Minister paused, smiles hitched his cloth to tied it around his waist.

The excitement was taken up by the all-women Tanokrom ensemble from Brong Ahafo with kete and frontomfrom performances. They virtually set the place agog with their powerful drumming.

The Upper east and Eastern regions took their turn on Tuesday. The Sandema Cultural Troupe dressed in sabagaruk (war dress), complemented by bows and arrows and wearing helmets that had horns on them did a war dance.

The Tongo group from Talensi Nabdam did a dance they named as the freedom dance whilst a group from Navrongo in Kassena Nankana did the nogla dance. Significantly all the dances from the Upper East had something to do with the making of gestures at calculated steps whilst jumping and stamping their feet on the ground to the tune of flutes and drums.

The Daasebre Troupe from the New Juaben Traditional Area and Dwewani Cultural Troupe from Akropong Akuapim represented the Eastern Region in the performances. Daasebre performed kete and fontomfrom dances while Dwewani, used bamboo sticks and stones to roll out tunes.

Significantly the environmental surroundings of each region reflected in the form of dance as it was witnessed that groups from Northern Ghana were used to jumping and stamping their foot on the ground whilst those from the forest areas stepped on the ground gently.

This could be interpreted as in the forest areas, one risked stepping on a thorn and injuring oneself if he or she were to step on the ground hard but because of the sandy nature of the Northern part of the country, there was no risk of stepping on thorns.

Performances by the various regions whose respective Regional Minister were present with other dignitaries were present with other dignitaries were superb but it sadly did not reflect in the patronage. That situation could partly be blamed on poor publicity for the programme. The situation of the Cultural Centre grounds where the event was held did not help the festival.

*Source:
          Graphic Showbiz - Thursday, November 15-21, 2007 Page: 7