Agbadza

Agbadza dance

People dancing to Agbadza in Traditional clothing
Origin Ewe People Ghana

Agbadza is an Ewe music and dance that evolved from the times of war into a very popular recreational dance.[1] It is originally done by the Ewe people of the Volta Region of Ghana, particularly during the Hogbetsotso Festival, a celebration by the Anlo Ewe people. This dance is also seen in present-day Togo and Benin.[2]

The dance is usually played at funerals, weddings, and parties. Essentially, it is played at any occasion that called for an Ewe identity emblem, since this music is known by other ethnic groups to be uniquely Ewe.[3] Everyone is welcome to join in the dance, unlike other Ewe dances, which sometimes are reserved for people of a certain age, religion, or gender.[4] The dance is sometimes known as the “chicken dance” due to the bird-like motions required for the dance.[3]

Origin

Agbadza finds its origin in the times of war. The Ewe people went through various times of war and oppression before settling down in the Volta Region of Ghana and in Southern Togo.[4] In order to train their warriors to be ready for battle, the Ewes used various songs and dances to encourage the warriors. Through this a dance called Atrikpui was born. This dance later evolved to Agbadza, which is no longer used for war but rather in events that are more joyful.[5] Through Agbadza, at the time known as Atrikpui, Ewe singers and poets sang about battles, life and death, heroism, cowardice, migration, conquest, imperialism, and a warrior ethos.[4] The move towards Agbadza was done due to a period of peace that was enjoyed by the Ewes around the 1920s, and so instead they decided to use some of their old songs as entertainment. Today, Agbadza is the most famous and widely played Ewe dance.[1]

Instruments

Bell: It has a recurring phrase that establishes the tempo of the song and serves as a timeline for the rest of the ensemble.[3]

Sogo: This is the ensemble leader drum. It indicates to the other drums what they are supposed to be playing. This drum also signals the dancers when they are supposed to be starting to dance, through the use of drumming language.[3]

Kidi: This is the second drum in the ensemble. It communicates with the Sogo to create a conversation using drumming language.[3]

Kagan: This is a support drum, which has a recurring rhythm throughout the performance that interacts with the bell to create a specific melody.[3]

Rattle/ Ajatse: This is a beaded-rattle that follows the rhythm of the timeline closely to complement the Agbadza song.[3]

Handclaps: The handclaps in Agbadza are used to add human interaction to the song and create a dense musical texture of high energy.[3]

Song

The song is based on a call and responses system, which is widely present in the music of West Africa.

Call: Se Se Se Ioooo

Response: Aho Aho Ahoooo

Call: Se Se Se Iooo

Response: Aho Aho Ahoooo

ALL: Enyo o Egble o ahooo

                 Ne meku Agbadzawua nadim hee
                 Ne meku Agbadzawua nadim hee
                 Ne mekua Kiniwua nadi hee
                 Ne makua Kiniwua nadi hee

[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Agbadza - The Famous Ewe Rhythm And Dance". African Music Safari. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  2. "Agbadza - Awesome Tapes From Africa". Awesome Tapes From Africa. 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Locke, David. "Agbadza" (PDF). The Critical Edition via Tufts University Press.
  4. 1 2 3 1945-, Agordoh, A. A. (Alexander Akorlie),. African music : traditional and contemporary. ISBN 9781594545542. OCLC 876592656.
  5. "Repertoire". www.azaguno.com. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  6. Kuwor, Sylvanus Kwashie. Agbadza Song. University of Ghana.
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