A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of <i>Sanga</i> Traditional Dance of the <i>Asantes</i>

Ronit Akomeah; Eric Appau Asante; Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes

Ronit Akomeah, Eric Appau Asante, Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 4, Issue 1)

Received: 8 January 2019 Accepted: 27 February 2019 Published: 20 March 2019

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Abstract

Asante traditional dances bear and portray some aspects of Asante culture; albeit, less number of these traditional dances are much performed and mostly known within Asante and other places in Ghana and overseas. The internet; being a suggestive abode of information for educational, preservation and other purposes mostly host Adowa, Kete and Fͻntͻmfrͻm amongst the vast number of Asante traditional dances. Sanga is less performed and quite uncommon as it had been orally passed down as a means of preservation. Most people have neglected Sanga and there is basically less knowledge on the dance making it currently recede. This study therefore investigates the problem to understand the embedded meanings behind Sanga dance and to also advance the need and means for the preservation of Sanga traditional dance. In using the qualitative research method, interviews and observation were the main forms of data collection instruments used for the study. Data were collected from the Head of Performing Arts and the Ammamerɛso Agofomma of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi and the then Ɛntrɛpakuo and the head teacher of the R/C JHS, Atwima Nerebehi. Most respondents are indigenes of the Ashanti Region and had in-depth knowledge on Sanga. A sample size of 16 was selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The results of the study proved that Sanga dance forms part of Asante culture and is mostly embedded in its related cultural elements; appropriate means to accurately document such receding traditional dances are in both photography and video formats. It was recommended that the chiefs and elders of various ethnic groups in Ghana should include receding Ghanaian traditional dances to public gatherings; and bridge the gap of preserving traditional dances by using documentary videos.

Published in	English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 4, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
Page(s)	8-16
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Asante Traditional Dances, Cultural Elements, Preservation of Perception and Receding Traditional Dance

References

[1]	Nketia, J. K., 1966. Music in African Cultures A Review of the Meaning and Significance of Traditional African Music. Accra: Institute of African Studies.
[2]	Mille, A. D., 1963. The Book of the Dance. London: Paul Hamlyn.
[3]	Hecht, T., n.d.. Dance Costume. [Online] Available at: http://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-types-styles/dance-costume
[4]	GhanaWeb, 2012. Azonto - The New Music and Dance Craze in Ghana. [Online] Available at: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Azonto-The-New-Music-and-Dance-Craze-in-Ghana-229161 [Accessed 7 November 2016].
[5]	National Commission on Culture, 2004. The Cultural Policy Of Ghana, s.l.: s.n.
[6]	Asare, S., 2014. Erotic expressions in Adowa dance of the Asante: The stimulating gestures, costuming and dynamic drumming. Journal of Music and Dance, pp. 1-8.
[7]	Nketia, J. H., 1963. African Music in Ghana. Los Angeles: Northwestern University Press.
[8]	Stubblefield-Tave, H., 2014. A Dynamic Blend: The Study of Traditional Ghanaian Dance in Connection with American Hip-Hop and Tap. SIT Digital Collections, pp. 28-46.
[9]	National Commission on Culture, 2006. Centre For National Culture - Ashanti Region. pp. 1-1.
[10]	Uji, C. & Tijime, A. J., 2014. Towards the Theories and Practice of the Dance Art. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, pp. 251-258.
[11]	Cudjoe, E., 2015. The Contexts And Meaning In Asante Dance Performance: The Case Of Kete. Accra: University Of Ghana, Legon.
[12]	Liu, K. R., 2006. Female Song Tradition and the Akan of Ghana: The Creative Process in Nnwonkorͻ by Kwasi Ampene. The World of Music, pp. 80-82.
[13]	Carter, A., 2006. Preserving Dance, Making History. Tecumseh: International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics.
[14]	The National Folk Museum of Korea, 2011. Guidebook for the Documentation of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Seoul: National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.

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APA Style

Ronit Akomeah, Eric Appau Asante, Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. (2019). A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. English Language, Literature & Culture, 4(1), 8-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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ACS Style

Ronit Akomeah; Eric Appau Asante; Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2019, 4(1), 8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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AMA Style

Ronit Akomeah, Eric Appau Asante, Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2019;4(1):8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12,
  author = {Ronit Akomeah and Eric Appau Asante and Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur},
  title = {A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {8-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20190401.12},
  abstract = {Asante traditional dances bear and portray some aspects of Asante culture; albeit, less number of these traditional dances are much performed and mostly known within Asante and other places in Ghana and overseas. The internet; being a suggestive abode of information for educational, preservation and other purposes mostly host Adowa, Kete and Fͻntͻmfrͻm amongst the vast number of Asante traditional dances. Sanga is less performed and quite uncommon as it had been orally passed down as a means of preservation. Most people have neglected Sanga and there is basically less knowledge on the dance making it currently recede. This study therefore investigates the problem to understand the embedded meanings behind Sanga dance and to also advance the need and means for the preservation of Sanga traditional dance. In using the qualitative research method, interviews and observation were the main forms of data collection instruments used for the study. Data were collected from the Head of Performing Arts and the Ammamerɛso Agofomma of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi and the then Ɛntrɛpakuo and the head teacher of the R/C JHS, Atwima Nerebehi. Most respondents are indigenes of the Ashanti Region and had in-depth knowledge on Sanga. A sample size of 16 was selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The results of the study proved that Sanga dance forms part of Asante culture and is mostly embedded in its related cultural elements; appropriate means to accurately document such receding traditional dances are in both photography and video formats. It was recommended that the chiefs and elders of various ethnic groups in Ghana should include receding Ghanaian traditional dances to public gatherings; and bridge the gap of preserving traditional dances by using documentary videos.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes
AU  - Ronit Akomeah
AU  - Eric Appau Asante
AU  - Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur
Y1  - 2019/03/20
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 8
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
AB  - Asante traditional dances bear and portray some aspects of Asante culture; albeit, less number of these traditional dances are much performed and mostly known within Asante and other places in Ghana and overseas. The internet; being a suggestive abode of information for educational, preservation and other purposes mostly host Adowa, Kete and Fͻntͻmfrͻm amongst the vast number of Asante traditional dances. Sanga is less performed and quite uncommon as it had been orally passed down as a means of preservation. Most people have neglected Sanga and there is basically less knowledge on the dance making it currently recede. This study therefore investigates the problem to understand the embedded meanings behind Sanga dance and to also advance the need and means for the preservation of Sanga traditional dance. In using the qualitative research method, interviews and observation were the main forms of data collection instruments used for the study. Data were collected from the Head of Performing Arts and the Ammamerɛso Agofomma of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi and the then Ɛntrɛpakuo and the head teacher of the R/C JHS, Atwima Nerebehi. Most respondents are indigenes of the Ashanti Region and had in-depth knowledge on Sanga. A sample size of 16 was selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The results of the study proved that Sanga dance forms part of Asante culture and is mostly embedded in its related cultural elements; appropriate means to accurately document such receding traditional dances are in both photography and video formats. It was recommended that the chiefs and elders of various ethnic groups in Ghana should include receding Ghanaian traditional dances to public gatherings; and bridge the gap of preserving traditional dances by using documentary videos.
VL  - 4
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ER  -

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Author Information

Ronit Akomeah

Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Eric Appau Asante

Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur

Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

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Ronit Akomeah, Eric Appau Asante, Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. (2019). A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. English Language, Literature & Culture, 4(1), 8-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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ACS Style

Ronit Akomeah; Eric Appau Asante; Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2019, 4(1), 8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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AMA Style

Ronit Akomeah, Eric Appau Asante, Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur. A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2019;4(1):8-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12,
  author = {Ronit Akomeah and Eric Appau Asante and Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur},
  title = {A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {8-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20190401.12},
  abstract = {Asante traditional dances bear and portray some aspects of Asante culture; albeit, less number of these traditional dances are much performed and mostly known within Asante and other places in Ghana and overseas. The internet; being a suggestive abode of information for educational, preservation and other purposes mostly host Adowa, Kete and Fͻntͻmfrͻm amongst the vast number of Asante traditional dances. Sanga is less performed and quite uncommon as it had been orally passed down as a means of preservation. Most people have neglected Sanga and there is basically less knowledge on the dance making it currently recede. This study therefore investigates the problem to understand the embedded meanings behind Sanga dance and to also advance the need and means for the preservation of Sanga traditional dance. In using the qualitative research method, interviews and observation were the main forms of data collection instruments used for the study. Data were collected from the Head of Performing Arts and the Ammamerɛso Agofomma of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi and the then Ɛntrɛpakuo and the head teacher of the R/C JHS, Atwima Nerebehi. Most respondents are indigenes of the Ashanti Region and had in-depth knowledge on Sanga. A sample size of 16 was selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The results of the study proved that Sanga dance forms part of Asante culture and is mostly embedded in its related cultural elements; appropriate means to accurately document such receding traditional dances are in both photography and video formats. It was recommended that the chiefs and elders of various ethnic groups in Ghana should include receding Ghanaian traditional dances to public gatherings; and bridge the gap of preserving traditional dances by using documentary videos.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Descriptive and Historical Analysis of Sanga Traditional Dance of the Asantes
AU  - Ronit Akomeah
AU  - Eric Appau Asante
AU  - Nana Ama Pokuaa Arthur
Y1  - 2019/03/20
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 8
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20190401.12
AB  - Asante traditional dances bear and portray some aspects of Asante culture; albeit, less number of these traditional dances are much performed and mostly known within Asante and other places in Ghana and overseas. The internet; being a suggestive abode of information for educational, preservation and other purposes mostly host Adowa, Kete and Fͻntͻmfrͻm amongst the vast number of Asante traditional dances. Sanga is less performed and quite uncommon as it had been orally passed down as a means of preservation. Most people have neglected Sanga and there is basically less knowledge on the dance making it currently recede. This study therefore investigates the problem to understand the embedded meanings behind Sanga dance and to also advance the need and means for the preservation of Sanga traditional dance. In using the qualitative research method, interviews and observation were the main forms of data collection instruments used for the study. Data were collected from the Head of Performing Arts and the Ammamerɛso Agofomma of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi and the then Ɛntrɛpakuo and the head teacher of the R/C JHS, Atwima Nerebehi. Most respondents are indigenes of the Ashanti Region and had in-depth knowledge on Sanga. A sample size of 16 was selected through purposive and snowball sampling. The results of the study proved that Sanga dance forms part of Asante culture and is mostly embedded in its related cultural elements; appropriate means to accurately document such receding traditional dances are in both photography and video formats. It was recommended that the chiefs and elders of various ethnic groups in Ghana should include receding Ghanaian traditional dances to public gatherings; and bridge the gap of preserving traditional dances by using documentary videos.
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  -

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