I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive
expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what
culture we're from, everyone loves music.👌 Let’s support our Ewe
Culture Music and don’t hesitate to Call us for any Proggam or for any
sponsorship Deal God bless y’all for the support.
**** Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Borborbor music and dance from Ghana, West Africa and from Togo, West Africa.
This post showcases a few videos of the Ghanaian (Ewe) music group Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band with a focus on the hand clapping and other hand motions that are performed by that band's singers.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the founders, leaders, and other members of Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
**** PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE I am an African American self-described "community folklorist who knows nothing about African culture besides what I've read and watched online. I first learned about Borborbor music and dance in 2012 as a result of "happening" upon a video while "surfing" YouTube for traditional African music and dance. [The link for the pancocojams post that was the result of my finding out about Borborbor is given above.] Most of the articles and comments that I've read about
Borborbor dancing focus on its drumming style and/or it allegedly being the
source for or resembling contemporary "twerking" dancing.
I haven't found any online content about howBorborbor singers' alternate between clapping
their own hands and performing other synchronized hand motions.
I'm not a musician but it appears to me that the Borborbor singers in the videos that I've watched which show those singers clap their hands on the first and second beats and then (usually) do some other synchronized hand motions on the third and fourth beat.
*By "individual" I mean that the singers are clapping their own hands and not the hands of anyone else.
**By "synchronized" I mean that it usually appears that all or many of the singers at a particular time in a video are doing the same alternate hand motions after they clap their hands. I don't know what-if anything- those motions mean in Ewe culture. Usually the singers stand in place without moving while doing these hand claps and other hand motions. However, sometimes they move from side to side and/or appear to perform some dance moves without leaving their spot.
These videos are given in no particular order. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
DISCLAIMER
This pancocojams post doesn't provide examples of all the hand motions that I've seen in Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band. Idon't know if singers in other Borborbor bands do the same or some different hand motions.
This post also doesn't YouTube videos of this these post doesn't include any time stamps or descriptions of the singers' hand clapping or other hand motions simply because I don't believe I could adequately describe those motions. Please feel free to add your descriptions about these Borborbor singers' hand clapping signatures and these hand motions.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: DzidzÉ”kpÉ”kpÉ” nye dadanya Å‹utÉ” le mÃaÆ’e BÉ”bÉ”bÉ” dekÉ”nuwo Æ’e
domenyinu bliboa me.❤️
Edzordzinam Fafali Officials, Dec 20, 2022
Best traditional culture group Edzordzinam fafali borborbor
band 💪💪 0277141434
****
SHOWCASE #3 - Check this massive borborbor performance ❤️❤️dont
forget to share abd subscribe to our channel ❤️❤️
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about Borborbor music and dance from Ghana, West Africa and from Togo, West Africa. This
dance is also called "Bobobo Akpesse", "Bobobo", and
"Akpessee".
This post showcases a YouTube video of Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band and provides some information about Borborbor music.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/03/five-youtube-video-examples-of-singers.html for Part II of this two part pancocojams series. That post showcases a few videos of the Ghanaian (Ewe) music group Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band with a focus on how Borborbor singers alternate individual hand clapping with other synchronized hand motions.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the founders, leaders, and other members of Edzordzinam Fafali Borborbor Band and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. -snip- Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/borborbor-performances-togo-ghana for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "Borborbor Performances – Ghana and Togo, West Africa"
**** ARTICLE EXCERPTS/COMPLETE REPRINT
These excerpts and one complete reprint are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. However, based on current YouTube videos, some of these excerpts refer to traditional Borborbor music and dance instead of describing how that music and dance are performed in the 2000s.
Borborbor is an African tribal dance of the “Ewedome” community in Ghana, Africa. This “tribal” dance is said to have originated from the mid Volta region in Ghana. This dance is generally performed during “festive” occasions. In addition, this dance style essentially consists of music that involves the use of “drums”. Furthermore, the music used for this dance is also accompanied by “singing”. In addition, this form of dance is mainly performed in a group from dawn right until dusk.
a. *History/origin of the Borborbor:
It is believed that the root of this dance form has been embedded within the culture of a village called Wusuta located around the Volta Lake in Ghana during the late 1940’s. It was however an ex-police officer belonging to a village called Kpando called Francis Nuatro who first developed a musical genre called “Borborbor”. He apparently fused styles of music such as the Konkoma to produce this (Borborbor) genre of music. Furthermore, it was then to the rhythms of this music that this dance form was eventually produced, and was quite aptly named “Borborbor”.
b. *Costumes used in the Borborbor:*
This dance form is performed mainly by females and the costume worn includes a colourful long dress and two white handkerchiefs.
c. *Instruments involved in the Borborbor:*
“Traditional instruments” belonging to the Ewe community is basically used in this dance style. They include a pair of castanets, container rattles, a small drum called “vuvi”, a supporting drum called “asivu”, and a master drum called “vuga”.
d. *Training availability and dance technique involved in the Borborbor:face_blowing_a_kiss:
In terms of the technique, this dance involves the performers forming a circle, and swaying to the rhythmic beats of the music produced by the drums played by the musicians. In addition, while dancing the performers are supposed to twirl two handkerchiefs in the air. As for training centres/schools there are none available around the globe since this is essentially an “African tribal dance” that is performed exclusively by a tribe in Ghana known as “Ewedome”.
**** Excerpt #2 From https://ghanagoods.co.uk/ewe-dances/#:~:text=Also%20known%20as%20Agbeyeye%20or,Ewes%20of%20Ghana%20and%20Togo. Ewe Dances: Borborbor Dance by Disphoria, October 12, 2015 "The joy on achieving Independence in Ghana was expressed in
various ways by the entire populace of the country. This “new life” envisaged,
resulted in the emergence of several new musical types. These new creations
relating to the “freedom” to be enjoyed through the said independence have
roots in the popular Ghanaian Highlife. Boborbor is one of such musical
creations of the period 1947 – 1957. Also known as Agbeyeye or Akpese; Boborbor
originated from Kpando in the Volta Region of Ghana through the ingenuity of
the late Francis Cudjoe Nuatro popularly called F.C. Boboobo is presently the
most popular social music and dance of the central and northern Ewes of Ghana
and Togo. It is generally performed at funerals and other social occasions.
Boborbor music and dance ceremony is syncretic in character and it is performed
principally in a circular formation."
..."Bobobo, the second dance-drumming piece of the night, is a
type of recreational dance-drumming of the Ewe people in
Southeastern Ghana. It originated in Kpando, located in the Northern Volta Region,
prior to Ghanaian independence in the late 1950s. Influences from
West African highlife, for example the offbeat bell timeline, and Western
hymn singing are evident. Most of the song lyrics in Bobobo are set in
the Ewe language.
While many Ewe genres include mixed-gender dancing, the
typical gender roles of this genre include female dancers, and male
drummers. Drumming is typically performed only by men in Ghana. A trumpet or
bugle is commonly used to accompany the singing and improvise around
the melodies of the songs. The instrumentation includes the toke
(boat-shaped single bell), kretsiwa (iron finger bell), akaye (gourd
shaker), vuvi (small stick drum), asivui (hand drum), dondo (double-sided hourglass-shaped talking drum), vuga (master drum)."
****
Complete reprint #4 From https://tradancestudio.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/the-borborbor-dance-by-the-ewe-people/By Edem Teigo "Borborbor dance historically is an African recreational dance by the people of Ewe ethic group in Ghana and started by the people of Ewedome before later spread to Kpando, Hohoe, Ho and southern part of Volta Region and other regions of Ghana. The Borborbor genre is also called “akpesee” and spread to all Ewe speaking areas including Togo and Benin.
The root of the dance has been embedded within the culture of a village called Wusuta, located around the Volta Lake of Ghana during the 1940’s. It was however an old ex_police officer from Kpando village by name Francis Nuatro who first started a musical genre called “Borborbor “. He is the grandfather of Borborbor – genius of the genre if there is any recognition of Borborbor today. He fused the original music form, Konkoma with other forms of music genres to the modern Borborbor sound. The genre gained ground and was recognized as one of the popular dance due to the hard work of Francis Nuatro as many songs of Borborbor were composed by him. During a visit to Kpando by Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, it was reported that the rhythms of the borborbor music used at the welcoming ceremony won his heart as he joined the dancing led by Nuatro group.
Traditional instruments found at the Ewe community are basically used for this dance style. They include a pair of castanets, a container rattles, a small drum called “vuvi” a supporting drum called “asivu” and a master drum called “Vuga” but many bands now use between two and four drums. The castanets go” kor kor kor, kor kor kor, in triple beat in almost all borborbor music. The smaller drums basically just keep the rhythm going. It is the bass drum that provides the distinctive borborbor sound. That is why the master drummer must be good. In a typical borborbor number, the lead singer may start alone or with the accompaniment of the castanets. The drums and the chorus follow after some singing. The interchange between lead singer and chorus go on for some time through different songs. Then the bugler blows his first two notes, usually drawing out the second one as long as possible (pa paaaaaa) whereupon the dancing girls will bend down (it is not called borborbor for nothing) adding some more styles to their movements. The master drummer will raise his act sometimes following the melody of the horn, at other times inter-lacing rhythmically with it. The bugler ends his long solo on a note that cues the lead singer to take up the singing again at the same time as the dancing girls will rise up, their white handkerchiefs fluttering in the air in a calculated dance movement.
The Borborbor dance has now adaptation of rhymes and high life as songs as traditional Borborbor songs has been adulterated thereby affecting the significant of that rhythmic dance form.The genre is performance at funeral, festival, naming ceremony and ceremony to welcome special guests."
**** Excerpt #5 From http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201101 "A
traditional Borborbor group consists of a pair of castanets, container rattles,
small drums (vuvi), supporting drum (asivu), and a master drum (vuga) but many
bands now use between two and four drums. The castanets go ”kor kor kor, kor
kor kor”, in triple beat in almost all borborbor music. The smaller drums
basically just keep the rhythm going. It is the bass drum that provides the
distinctive borborbor sound. That is why the master drummer must be good. In a
typical borborbor number, the lead singer may start alone or with the accompaniment
of the castanets. The drums and the chorus follow after some singing. The
interchange between lead singer and chorus go on for some time through
different songs. Then the bugler blows his first two notes, usually drawing out
the second one as long as possible (pa paaaaaa) whereupon the dancing girls
will bend down (it is not called borborbor for nothing) adding some more styles
to their movements. The master drummer will raise his act sometimes following
the melody of the horn, at other times inter-lacing rhythmically with it. The
bugler ends his long solo on a note that cues the lead singer to take up the
singing again at the same time as the dancing girls will rise up, their white
handkerchiefs fluttering in the air. I have seen a group use black and red
handkerchiefs. That is ugly. It is an abomination that will be sternly frowned
upon by the borborbor aficionados. Anything other than white handkerchiefs
detracts from the purity of the dance."... -snip- Based on the YouTube videos that I have watched, "white" isn't the only color cloth that is twirled by Borborbordancers in the 2000s.
**** Excerpt #6 From http://www.bridgingdevelopment.org/culturepages/musicpages/borborbor.htm: "Borborbor is the most popular style of recreational
music in the Volta Region [of Ghana]. It links traditional drumming rhythms
with proverbial lyrics that frequently include Christian themes. It is the
ultimate blend of old and new. Borborbor is often played at celebrations and
funerals. Borborbor drummers weave moderate beats while women dancers and
singers revolve around them. Women singers carry two white handkerchiefs that
they twirl in the air at the end of a drumming period. A bugle may be used to
add spice to the music. There is usually one song leader who will sing the
first line of a song and lead the people from one song to the next by combining
the meanings of different songs in unique ways to evoke the spirit of the
particular occasion. Everyone in the community may participate in these
performances which usually begin at dusk and can continue well into the night
and even until dawn. Borborbor dance is very suggestive and many boy-girl
liaisons develop during these events."
This pancocojams post is Part II of a four part pancocojams series on Ghanaian, Togolese, and Nigerian customs of waving or twirling white handkerchiefs while dancing or while worshipping in church.
Part II showcases videos of the Borborbor (Akpesse) dances of the Ewe people of Ghana, West Africa and of Togo, West Africa. Women traditionally perform those dances holding white handkerchiefs in both hands.
This post also provides videos of church some people in Ghana waving white handkerchiefs during church services.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/11/information-about-dancing-and-waving.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents information about traditional customs of waving and/or dancing with white handkerchiefs in certain West African cultures and also presents theories about the purposes of those customs in those cultures.
****
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in the videos that are embedded in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of those videos on YouTube.
****
I believe that the customs of waving white handkerchiefs in New Orleans, Louisiana or elsewhere in the United States while marching in second line wedding parades have their sources in the traditional customs of waving or dancing with white handkerchiefs in the Ewe cultures of Ghana, West Africa and Togo, West Africa, and the Igbo culture of Nigeria, West Africa.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BORBORBOR (Ghana) / (AKPESSE (Togo)- TRADITIONAL DANCES WITH WHITE HANDKERCHIEFS AMONG EWE WOMEN IN GHANA AND IN TOGO
From http://www.bridgingdevelopment.org/culturepages/musicpages/borborbor.htm
"Borborbor is the most popular style of recreational music in the Volta Region [of Ghana]. It links traditional drumming rhythms with proverbial lyrics that frequently include Christian themes. It is the ultimate blend of old and new. Borborbor is often played at celebrations and funerals. Borborbor drummers weave moderate beats while women dancers and singers revolve around them. Women singers carry two white handkerchiefs that they twirl in the air at the end of a drumming period. A bugle may be used to add spice to the music. There is usually one song leader who will sing the first line of a song and lead the people from one song to the next by combining the meanings of different songs in unique ways to evoke the spirit of the particular occasion. Everyone in the community may participate in these performances which usually begin at dusk and can continue well into the night and even until dawn. Borborbor dance is very suggestive and many boy-girl liaisons develop during these events."
-snip-
Additional information about Borborbor dancing is included in Part I of this series.
****
SHOWCASE EXAMPLES
These examples are given in chronological order according to their publishing dates on YouTube with the oldest dated example given first.
Example #1: AFRICANA BOBOBO AKPESSE DE TOTSIGAN A HEDJRANAWOE LOME TOGO POURQUOI PAS SUR FRANCE24 TOOFAN [Togo]
Mawuakpe
-snip-
The group dances holding one white handkerchief and one yellow handkerchief. Also, I notice that there's a male dancer in the group.
Here are two comments from that video's discussion thread:
MC PAPA LINC, 2011
"CLASSIC TUNE FROM VOLTA REGION GHANA."
**
Cynthia Lilly, 2012
"This reminds me so much of our Bahamian Christmas and New Year festival Junkanoo. The drums vibrating through your entire body is so exillerating."
****
Example #3: Awudome Cultural Group Performance, Volta Region, Ghana (part 1 of 2)
Michael Frishkopf, Published on May 29, 2012
Staged by the Awudome Senior High School cultural group at the launching of the 50th Anniversary of the school. Performances of three dances--(1) Borborbor, (2) Awusa, (3) Sauma--are led by master drummer and dancer Kofi Avi. This is the first part of a two video series; see part 2 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itRImR... . (Awudome Senior High School, PO Box 33, Tsito, Volta Region, Ghana)
Borborbor is a recreational dance of the Ewe people in Ghana's Volta Region, blending traditional percussion rhythms with Christian themes and harmonies in the singing. Borborbor is often played at celebrations and funerals.
Awusa is performed by the Hausa people of northern Ghana, most of whom are Muslims. It is used to entertain at durbars and other festive occasions. Awusa is a royal dance and is depicted by the performers' dress while dancing.
Solma is a social dance performed by the people of the Northern territories of Ghana, especially by the Mossi. It is a very old dance that is performed during festivals.
****
Example #4: Borborbor GH
Johnson Hlordzi, Published on Dec 23, 2012
One of Ghana's popular music from the Volta Region. At a funeral at Osiabura
****
Example #6: DEDEDO BORBORBOR GROUP TADZEWU 1999 [Ghana]
A.R.S. LONDON, Published on Sep 21, 2014
****
Example #7: Hot, Real Borborbor Dance Performed at Dzolo [Ghana]
Labone Express, Published on Nov 24, 2014
Enjoy this real Borborbor Dance! You'll see in this video how people of the Volta Region, Ghana normally perform their Borborbor Dance. This performance was recorded November 2014 at Dzolo Kpuita during funeral of Architect Jerry Kofi Loglo.
This post is Part I of a four part pancocojams series on Ghanaian, Togolese, and Nigerian customs of waving or twirling white handkerchiefs while dancing or while worshipping in church.
This post presents information about those traditional customs in the Ewe cultures of Ghana, West Africa and Toga, West Africa, as well as information about the Igbos (Nigeria) traditional custom of dancing with white handkerchiefs.
This post also explores some reasons that have been given for the customs of waving white handkerchiefs or dancing white handkerchiefs in those cultures as well as my speculations about the meanings of those customs.
****
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
I believe that the customs of waving white handkerchiefs in New Orleans, Louisiana or elsewhere in the United States while marching in second line wedding parades have their sources in the traditional customs of waving or dancing with white handkerchiefs in the Ewe cultures of Ghana, West Africa and Togo, West Africa, and the Igbo culture of Nigeria, West Africa.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BORBORBOR (Ghana) / (AKPESSE (Togo)- TRADITIONAL DANCES WITH WHITE HANDKERCHIEFS AMONG EWE WOMEN IN GHANA AND IN TOGO
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borborbor
"Borborbor is Ghanaian and Togolese traditional dance performed by the Ewes from mid Volta region of Ghana. The dance is specially performed during the festival of the chiefs and peoples of communities."
**
From http://www.bridgingdevelopment.org/culturepages/musicpages/borborbor.htm
"Borborbor is the most popular style of recreational music in the Volta Region [of Ghana]. It links traditional drumming rhythms with proverbial lyrics that frequently include Christian themes. It is the ultimate blend of old and new. Borborbor is often played at celebrations and funerals. Borborbor drummers weave moderate beats while women dancers and singers revolve around them. Women singers carry two white handkerchiefs that they twirl in the air at the end of a drumming period. A bugle may be used to add spice to the music. There is usually one song leader who will sing the first line of a song and lead the people from one song to the next by combining the meanings of different songs in unique ways to evoke the spirit of the particular occasion. Everyone in the community may participate in these performances which usually begin at dusk and can continue well into the night and even until dawn. Borborbor dance is very suggestive and many boy-girl liaisons develop during these events."
**
From http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201101
[Excerpt from a comment about the use of colored handkerchiefs for borborbor]
"I have seen a [borborbor] group use black and red handkerchiefs. That is ugly. It is an abomination that will be sternly frowned upon by the borborbor aficionados. Anything other than white handkerchiefs detracts from the purity of the dance."...
-snip-
The tradition of only dancing Borborbor with two white handkerchiefs might be weakening. For example, a woman dressed in brown in a 2007 video of Borborbor from Tema, Ghana dances with one brown handkerchief. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yVIAwvWbMA. Also, in a 2012 video of Borborbor dancing at a funeral, women dressed in red dance with red handkerchiefs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yVIAwvWbMA. (Note: Red and black are funeral colors in Ghana.). And another Ghanaian video shows a woman wearing a black dress dancing with a black handkerchief and some women dancing Borborbor with no handkerchiefs at all https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRhMlerw9k.
In the Togolese videos that I've watched on YouTube, white handkerchiefs held by the dancers are smaller and thinner. From the few videos that I've seen, it appears to me that there is more emphasis on the twirling motions in the Togolese form of Borborbor than in the Ghanaian form of that dance. I've not found any information online about the meaning of these dances.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/borborbor-performances-togo-ghana.html
I've not been able to find any information online about the name or names of the Igbo (Nigerian) traditional dances that women performed and still perform with white handkerchiefs. However, the information that I found points to what I think is the real reasons for the use of white handkerchiefs in Igbo dance (and, I believe also provides the real reasons for the use of white handkerchiefs in Ewe dance. Those reasons are given in #4 and #5 of the "Why..." section below.
****
A QUOTE ABOUT WAVING WHITE HANDKERCHIEFS IN GHANAIAN CHURCH SERVICES
Google books Word Made Global: Stories of African Christianity in New York City by Mark R. Gornik, Andrew Walls, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, Jul 22, 2011 - p. 89
Solemnly and slowly the leaders and choir of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Harlem [New York City] process down the aisle. First in line is the Church Choir, dressed in its pressed black and white uniforms, followed by Rev. Asiedu, and a presiding elder. After a selection of hymns and liturgical prayers in Twi from the Presbyterian Church of Ghana – from hymnals the members brought with them-the service dramatically shifts gears. The Church band has the congregation out of its pews and in the aisles dancing, marching, and waving white handkerchiefs to the High-life infected rhythms and choruses of Ghanaian Gospel music with its propelling baselines, multiple drums and percussion sounds, and cool saxophone notes”.
-snip-
Videos of Ghanaian church services that include waving white handkerchiefs are included in Part II of this pancocojams series. However, YouTube videos document that waving white handkerchiefs isn't done in every Ghanaian denomination (and probably not every church service for particular denominations).
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF WHITE HANDKERCHIEFS IN IGBO AND EWE DANCES
Note: I've assigned numbers to these quotes for referencing purposes only.
1. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bho1JbB1gTA Atta Boafo - Double Double (Blessings)*
sisteryaime, 2012
"can anyone please tell me the meaning behind the lttle cloths all african always be swinging around while praising God in church? thxs"
**
2. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bho1JbB1gTA Atta Boafo - Double Double (Blessings)*
callmeblessings, 2012
in reply to sisteryaime
@sisteryaime lol it doesn't really have a meaning as far as I know. Its just people in africa have these little scarves or cloth because of the heat. For some reason they started using it in church as an extra to praise God. It looks nice too when the whole church does it I think lol."
-snip-
The comment that people wave white handkerchiefs in church because of the heat is echoed in discussion threads about why people wave white handkerchiefs during New Orleans wedding second line parades. I think that reason is much too simplistic. That said, I agree that Borborbor dancers, Igbo dancers, people waving handkerchiefs while dancing in church, or just waving handkerchiefs in church could also use those handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat of their face. But there's more too the custom then just heat and sweat- as that blogger indicates in the rest of his or her comment.
-snip-
This video is featured in Part II of this pancocojams series. Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/11/two-versions-of-african-gospel-song.html for a pancocojams post about the song "Double Double" which includes the lyrics for that song.
**
3. From Google book Riddle and Bash: African Performance and Literature Reviews
By Chinenye Ce African Books Collective, 2010
p. 60
[describing Igbo women dancers]
"A white handkerchief can be seen on their hands with which they which wave in rhythm to their dancing and wipe the sweat off their faces. As custodians of virtue, they must be bare footed so that their feet are fully on earth. Waist movements are measured and controlled, hand gestures are also prominent."
**
4. From https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TalkNigeria/conversations/topics/38807 Reply to Jimjack-The Politics of Oil: Ikwere Search for Cultural Identity
Paul Oranika, Jul 23, 2007
"Dear JimJack:
..."You also need to understand that white handkerchiefs are not just used for sweat purposes only, black, yellow, green purple and other color handkerchiefs could do the same job as well. JimJack the major cultural angle of the white handkerchiefs used by Igbo women in dancing serves a major purpose of dance and movement synchronization.
-snip-
It seems to me that any one color could serve the purpose of dance and movement synchronization. Also, any one color could help emphasize the movements of the hands (which I think is one purpose for the handkerchiefs). But I think that the reason why the color white was (is?) chosen for this dance (the Igbo dances and also the Ewe dances) is because of the cultural meaning of the color "white" in those cultures.
****
5. From https://books.google.com/books?id=8bswAQAAIAAJ Groundwork of Igbo history - Page 754
Adiele Eberechukwu Afigbo - 1992 - [Snippet view]
"Because the Ogbaru people associated the white colour with deities, the dance was first performed with costumes made of white cloth under the priestess, the dance had a religious character... However, white handkerchief was introduced to accentuate the white symbolism."
-snip-
Although this comment refers to Igbo traditional dancing, it may also apply to the Ewe dancing that are the focus of this post.
-snip-
I believe these customs also have an aesthetic value, i.e. they look good.
****
MY SPECULATION ABOUT WHY GHANAIANS AND OTHER PEOPLE WAVE WHITE HANKERCHIEFS DURING CHRISTIAN WORSHIP SERVICES
While waving and twirling white handkerchiefs in the traditional dances may have emphasized the movement of the dancers' hands and helped show group synchronicity, it seems to me that the main reason why people wave handkerchiefs in church is that it's a way of joyfully praising God. The Borborbor dance is probably the source of that custom for Ghanaian Christians although that dance isn't traditional for all Ghanaians.
Note these comments from the discussion thread for the video of the Gospel song "Double Double" whose link is given above:
tallandstately, 2011
"Who said you can't have fun while praising God! Wow, GOD IS GOOD!!"
**
"deborah king, 2013
"love it make a joyful noise unto the LORD"
**
phio luv, 2013
"we shall enter His gates with thanks giving....oh i love that"
**
KrisJSR, 2013
"this song puts me in such a great mood for worship for dancing!!!i love it! my God is Good O!!"
-snip-
The color white denotes purity and therefore fits in Christian theological beliefs. In addition, notice in the videos of these church worship services (that are found in Part II of this series) that men and women raise their handkerchiefs high and not low. That also fits in the theological belief in God being above (Heaven).
-snip-
I'm interested in your opinions about why white handkerchiefs are used for these dances and worship services.
This pancocojams post showcases eight selected videos of Borborbor dance & music performances from the Ewe ethnic group of the West African nations of Ghana and Togo. This dance is also called "Bobobo Akpesse", "Bobobo", and "Akpessee".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, religious, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producers and publishers of these videos.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BORBORBOR
From http://www.bridgingdevelopment.org/culturepages/musicpages/borborbor.htm:
"Borborbor is the most popular style of recreational music in the Volta Region [of Ghana]. It links traditional drumming rhythms with proverbial lyrics that frequently include Christian themes. It is the ultimate blend of old and new. Borborbor is often played at celebrations and funerals. Borborbor drummers weave moderate beats while women dancers and singers revolve around them. Women singers carry two white handkerchiefs that they twirl in the air at the end of a drumming period. A bugle may be used to add spice to the music. There is usually one song leader who will sing the first line of a song and lead the people from one song to the next by combining the meanings of different songs in unique ways to evoke the spirit of the particular occasion. Everyone in the community may participate in these performances which usually begin at dusk and can continue well into the night and even until dawn. Borborbor dance is very suggestive and many boy-girl liaisons develop during these events."
****
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borborbor
"Borborbor is Ghanaian and Togolese traditional dance performed by the Ewes from mid Volta region of Ghana. The dance is specially performed during the festival of the chiefs and peoples of communities."
-Reference http://www.travel-to-discover-ghana.com/hogbetsotso-festival.html
-snip-
Here's that reference article [posted in full for folkloric purposes]
HOGBETSOTSO FESTIVAL
Hogbetsotso Festival is a festival of the people of Anlo in the Volta Region of Ghana. The theme behind this festival is to mark their journey from their former home in Togo, to their present settlement in Ghana.
The festival is a great time for the people, as this marks a great time in their history and is a time for settling disputes and getting to know each other.
ORIGIN:
History has it that before coming to their present settlement. The Anlo lived under a cruel and wicked ruler, King Agorkoli of Notsie, somewhere south of present day Sudan.
The Anlo people devised a way to escape from the town. They were led by a brave warrior known as the Red Hunter.
hogbetsotso-festival-celebration
The town [where] they were was fenced with a mud wall, so the Anlo women were told to pour water on one side of the wall anytime they had to dispose off any water.
This made the spot soft, and the people were able to break the wall and escape. To avoid being caught, they "walked backwards" so as to confuse their pursuers and even legend has it that “The Red Hunter” turned himself into a rat and walk over all their footprints to make them look old.
When they got to their present home, they created the festival Hogbetstso (Festival of Exodus) to mark this event.
CELEBRATION:
The festival has a host of other celebrations associated with it. There is a period of peace making. During this period, all outstanding disputes must be resolved. The aim is to bring the people together to live in harmony with each other.
There is also a general cleaning in the town. The whole town is swept, gutters cleaned, bushes are cleared and everywhere is kept clean. The cleaning which starts at the estuary of the Volta River, goes on until it reaches the Mono River in Benin.
This cleaning exercise is all inclusive and everyone in the town is supposed to take part. The people of Anlo believe that if they keep their surroundings clean, and they live in harmony with each other, no evil can befall.
They believe that their ancestors lived in harmony with each other all throughout their journey and that is what helped them to arrive at their destination. Therefore if they also want to be able to live in harmony, they must love one another. The cleaning continues for days until everywhere is well kept.
SUMMARY:
The highlight of the Hogbetsotso Festival celebration is a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of the town. There is drumming and dancing and merry making. The dancing is the most intriguing part, with the very popular “BORBORBOR” dance which is very intense and fun filled."
-snip-
I'm not sure from this passage if the "borborbor" dance is integrally associated with the Hogbetsotso celebration or is just a popular dance that is performed at that celebration.
The examples given below attest to the fact that borborbor (and its other names) is danced to religious and non-religious music.
Additional comments about this dance are included in the summary statements of the videos found below and in comments after those videos.
*****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in no particular order.
Video #1: Africana Bobobo Akpesse De Totsigan A Hedjranawoe Lome Togo Pourquoi Pas Sur
"i love this dannce soooooooooooooooooo much can some on tell me what the dance is called please????"
-gbb3b, 2011
**
"the name is AKPESSE South of Togo dance"
-nestani365l, 2011
-snip-
In this discussion thread I asked if "Borborbor", "Bobobo Akpesse", & "Bobobo" were the same. Marquange wrote on 12/27/2012 to confirm this.
-snip-
Here are two viewer comments about this video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH_Wj9rO1L8:
"Awesome!!!! I truly love this traditional African dancing, music, and unity of spirit the people show.
Can someone tell me what type of celebration it is. What is the topic of the song.
-ecmiddle1; 2011
**
"@ecmiddle1 this is called bobobo. it is not a celebration.. this is what is done for fun in Togo"
loloremorem; 2012
****
Video #3: Borborbor.AVI
Uploaded by LaurenLevine415 on Feb 22, 2010
I was very lucky to stumble upon this group of people in Ho, Ghana, who were dancing the Borborbor in their backyard-- which is a traditional Ewe cultural dance. It is usually performed after someone has died, and because many of the people are wearing black and red, the traditional funeral colors in Ghana, I suspect that this is the case.
The villagers were especially welcoming to me, even though I was by myself, and simply wandered into their yard uninvited. Many of them beckoned for me to join in, but I was shy and did not know the dance sequence. Instead, to chose to sit on the sidelines and film this video. I'm glad that I did, as it makes me smile each time I watch it.
-snip-
Here's an excerpt from a very informative post about borborbor in which the author takes the position that the color of the handkerchiefs used in this dance should always be white:
"A traditional Borborbor group consists of a pair of castanets, container rattles, small drums (vuvi), supporting drum (asivu), and a master drum (vuga) but many bands now use between two and four drums. The castanets go ”kor kor kor, kor kor kor”, in triple beat in almost all borborbor music. The smaller drums basically just keep the rhythm going. It is the bass drum that provides the distinctive borborbor sound. That is why the master drummer must be good. In a typical borborbor number, the lead singer may start alone or with the accompaniment of the castanets. The drums and the chorus follow after some singing. The interchange between lead singer and chorus go on for some time through different songs. Then the bugler blows his first two notes, usually drawing out the second one as long as possible (pa paaaaaa) whereupon the dancing girls will bend down (it is not called borborbor for nothing) adding some more styles to their movements. The master drummer will raise his act sometimes following the melody of the horn, at other times inter-lacing rhythmically with it. The bugler ends his long solo on a note that cues the lead singer to take up the singing again at the same time as the dancing girls will rise up, their white handkerchiefs fluttering in the air. I have seen a group use black and red handkerchiefs. That is ugly. It is an abomination that will be sternly frowned upon by the borborbor aficionados. Anything other than white handkerchiefs detracts from the purity of the dance..." Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=201101
****
Video #4: Dela Delali -Amenuveve
Uploaded by BIGDAVOLK on Dec 11, 2007
Gospel togolais de la reine, la doyenne
-snip-
I particularly love the way Dela Delali includes children in her videos. As an African American, I’m not used to seeing this type of dancing with religious songs. In the USA dancing like that is only reserved for non-religious music and would be frowned upon as sacrilege. But I realize that USA attitudes shouldn’t determine how other people combine music & dance.
This clip shows a borborbor troupe near Tema, in January 2007. This was the day before I left Ghana, and the taxi driver I had used a lot in my travels offered to take me to meet his friends to perform for me, so I obliged. They played for about half an hour, most of which I filmed, and afterwards I gave them a donation so they could buy themselves some drinks afterwards.
