Lecturer at the Department of Dance Studies, School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Dr. Terry Kweku Ofosu, has labelled dance as a compound tool comprising of music and drumming.
He described dance as a language on its own, conveying messages to audiences or a select group who understand these messages.
In a special made in Ghana discussion on the topic; “Passing on the Ghanaian Heritage through Dance” with e.tv Ghana’s Fati Shaibu Ali, he said, “Dance of course is a language on its own. It is a composite something which include music, its songs and the songs have text patterns and we have drum texts as well. So, the dancers will be responding to the song and the drum text as the whole thing is a composite communicative tool.”
According to him, the culture of dance is a whole process which has taken ages to develop.
Africans in times past, and presently in some areas communicate through drumming and this is understood by the indigenous people. “I believe this also went into the interpretation of drumming and drum texts.”
Dr. Ofosu expressed worry over the fact that the culture of drumming and dancing which is primarily passed down by custodians may fade out. His fear stems from the fact most of these custodians of drumming and dancing are dying off. “If we do not understand this and learn, we will lose our dance and culture.”