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The origins of dances in chieftaincy and the drum history; examples of dances based on praise-names of former chiefs; overview: how music helps in weddings, funerals, namings, festivals; happiness and music; happiness and dancing; music as something to give to the children
Images: Multiple chapters (I-15 to I-23)
Audio files
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Wedding house drumming, part 1 (35:38)
0:00 Zuu-waa / 0:34 Ninsala m-biɛ / 2:07 Zuu-waa / 2:52 Dam' duu / 3:51 Zamanduniya / 6:49 Zamanduniya / 9:11 Naanigoo / 11:51 Toli / 12:40 Nakɔhi-waa / 14:18 Nakɔhi-waa / 15:34 Ʒim taai kurugu / 17:41 Toli / 18:01 Nakɔhi-waa / 19:401 Nakɔhi-waa / 21:35 Nakɔhi-waa / 23:17 Doɣim malbu / 25:24 Naɣbiɛɣu / 29:00 Naanigoo / 30:52 Naanigoo / 33:04 Mohi-waa
Wedding house drumming, part 2 (27:56)
0:00 Naanigoo / 2:12 Mohi-waa / 4:47 Ninsala m-biɛ / 6:34 Naɣbiɛɣu / 7:03 Naɣbiɛɣu / 10:01 Nakɔhi-waa / 13:14 Naɣbiɛɣu / 14:35 Naɣbiɛɣu / 15:38 Mamprugu-waa / 18:37 Mamprugu-waa / 19:37 Zabaɣ' Damba / 23:26 Zabaɣ' Damba / 25:18 Naɣbiɛɣu
Taachi and other dancing at former gatherings
Praise names formerly were not danced
Examples of praise names that are not danced
Other chiefs' names and dances
Other dances from praise-names
Every day, when it is daybreak, knowledge increases.
There are many praise-names that we don't beat for dancing.
If kulunku insect gathers to be a hundred, it will still not be a cricket. (Naa Ziblim Kulunku)
The small spiny porcupine does not fear being slapped. (Naa Andani Jɛŋgbarga)
Mahoghany and milkweed are arguing: mahoghany should not be proud; milkweed will not play with the eyes. (Naa Ziblim Bandamda)
Those who move the buɣla door will ask for abuses. (Naa Ziblim Bandamda)
Asking doesn't finish. You will die and leave the asking.
Everybody asks to his extent. And what you will ask and your teacher will teach you, that is what you will use to do work.
We have many, many dances, and we drummers are the ones who search for them.
The reason why our dances are many is coming from the sense we take to do our work.
The proverbs we beat are many, and the people we praise are many.
Every chief has got his name, and even commoners have got names.
As our dances are many, it is the people who dance that make our Dagbamba dances to be many.
The people who dance are also different: every person has got the dance he can dance, and everybody has got the dance his heart wants.
Nobody dances the dance of another person.
The one who dances too much does not see ululation.
If you are a drummer, if you don't know the ways of the chiefs, you will only get yourself into tiredness.
Every human being, not only a Dagbana, if you say you are a person, it is good for you to know your tradition.
When you come to dance, you will step on it with pride, and you will show that what has been put down for you, you are not taking it to be useless.
If you hear that the people in a house have eaten a lot of food, it is the householder who has given them the food.
A man hasn't got his fellow man, and he's boasting. (Mionlana Sumaani)
The truth has got a place to sit, and the liar hasn't got a place to sit. (Naa Abilaai)
The baŋlari grass, that is what makes calabash bowls. (Naa Abilaai)
And the kapok trees will be falling gold. (Naa Abilaai)
A poor man's child has stepped on gold. (Naa Abilaai)
And those who ask are more than hundred. (Naa Abilaai)
The stepping place of the lion will gather more than hundred, it will not let a hippopotamus fall. (Naa Abilaai)
The food storage bin is carrying foodstuffs on top again. (Naa Abilaai)
The mouth that is nice will gather people. (Naa Abilaai)
Stars gather up to hundred, it will not look like a moon. (Naa Abilaai)
Meat that is not good, you cannot eat it. (Naa Yakuba)
Anthrax meat, vultures are disturbed. (Naa Yakuba)
Nantoo wants to kill, and vultures are disturbed. (Naa Yakuba)
Nantoo wants to kill and the medicines are plenty. (Naa Yakuba)
The child of the lion is still young, and however small or young it is, it will never chew grass. Unless meat. (Naa Yakuba)
The life that is very short, it can't share anything. If life were something that could be shared, it would have been given to the first-born Abudu, in addition to his brother Andani. (Naa Yakuba)
Termites tried to chop iron. (Naa Yakuba)
The termites want to eat something that they will eat, and if the fowl eats it, it will die. (Naa Yakuba)
And the fowl too will go and eat what will not let him die, after eating the termites. (Naa Yakuba)
The tizzo plant will not stand on the ground; it will always hang on the tree. (Naa Yakuba)
A bag that you hold quietly will not tear. (Naa Yakuba)
A person by himself does not mind poverty. (Naa Yakuba)
If mice struggle with iron, their teeth will break. (Naa Alaasani)
What God has put down, if they don't want, it will happen; and if they want, it will happen. (Naa Alaasani)
If you do not do bad, you will not come to meet bad. (Naa Abudu)
An anvil stone will roll and not break. (Naa Abudu)
A foolish man says it will happen; it is never something that will happen. (Naa Abudu)
A hypocrite will gather hundreds, it is the will of the owner of the talk. (Naa Abudu)
They are late in talking for something and it is no longer there. (Naa Mahama Kpɛma)
Lies can gather to be a hundred; truth is more than all of them. (Naa Mahamam Bila)
The star does not stand on the ground. (Naa Abilabila)
The dry trees will bear leaves and those who break firewood cannot get some. (Naa Abilabila)
The river where water is good will gather water-drinkers. (Naa Mahamadu)
The one who hasn't done any bad will not meet any bad on his way. (Naa Mahamadu)
Noise in a room: a mouse gets a bad name. (Tolon-Naa Yakubu Alhassan Tali)
The talk of a hundred people, one word of God is more than it. (Tolon-Naa Yakubu Alhassan Tali)
Wisdom is more than one person can hold. (Tolon-Naa Yakubu Alhassan Tali)
Someone who was sick and recovered does not want someone who is also sick to be cured. (Savelugu-Naa Yakuba)
The person who has recovered from sickness is the one who says the medicine is finished. (Savelugu-Naa Yakuba)
A wicked man's trap has caught his own child. (Kari-Naa Abukari)
A chief thief has taken a rich man's thing and turned around to put it at the rich man's sleeping place. (Diarilana Mahama)
The chief thief is in a hurry, but the owner of the thing is not yet asleep. (Diarilana Mahama)
An ant grows feathers, it is going to fly.
A human being is bad; God is not bad.
A grown chicken without feathers abuses a chick that it is badly covered, the young chick will someday grow feathers. (Bimbila-Naa)
The place where the lions sleep, you will find a bone there. (Tugulana Iddi)
When a foolish person buys gold, he is buying it for a person who has sense. (Gushe-Naa Bukari)
Repair a family. (Savelugu-Naa Abukari Kantampara)
I will not know a person and allow him to know me again. (Kari-Naa Alhassan)
God wants to make the world well, but human beings don't want Him to make it well. (Nanton-Naa Sule)
If you keep something in your house and you are not there, if the thing is going to spoil, someone who fears God will keep it well for you. (Vo-Naa Imoro)
If you are somebody who will prosper, and your enemies are trying to prevent you from getting what you are after, but the one who will prosper will prosper. (Gushe-Naa Bawa)
If you do somebody good, somebody will do you good; if you do somebody bad, somebody will do you bad. (Nanton-Naa Alaasambila)
Termites cannot overcome an iron spike. (Dakpɛma Suŋna)
If you trust a human being, you are lying down naked. (Savelugu-Naa Bukari)
If a problem comes to you, you have to use your knowledge to solve it. (Banvimlana Mahama)
Wind is blowing clay pots; calabashes should not be proud. (Savelugu-Naa Ziblim)
As the dances are there like that, it helps us in our hearts.
If there is a town where there is no dancing, then the town is not a town: it is a town of sorrows.
Where there are dances, there is happiness.
Truly, it is inside playing and dancing that laughter laughs.
Dances are something that makes us happy. And the dances are something that add to us.
That is why we take the dances and put them down for those behind us, our children.
Inside dancing, we don't hide ourselves.
We drummers sing the songs that let people know how to live with one another, and there will be respect, and there will be laughter, and there will be peace, and there will be happiness.
Our dancing helps us in our living.
Our dances add to us, and we are putting them down for our children, and the dances will add to them and help them, too.
Chiefs and elders
Dances, proverbs and praise-names
Phonetic spellings generally appear in parentheses after the ASCII version. This section has a three-line format for longer entries of some dances. The dance name in ASCII characters is followed in parentheses by the drum or song proverbial text, also in ASCII. The second line has the Dagbani version with phonetic characters. The third line, if appropriate, has a figurative English translation from the chapter text, along with the chief or person associated in the chapter text or cited song text.
Be Yoli Yelgu (Be yoli yelgu ka sheli kani)
Bɛ Yoli Yɛlgu (Bɛ yoli yɛlgu ka shɛli kani)
They are late in talking for something and it is no longer there. (Naa Mahama Kpɛma)
Ban Nira Yelgu (Ban nira yelgu: man' ku ban nira ka nira lam bang ma)
Baŋ Nira Yɛlgu (Baŋ nira yɛlgu: man' ku baŋ nira ka nira lam baŋ ma)
I will not know a person and allow him to know me again. (Kari-Naa Alhassan)
Bangumanga (Baŋgumaŋa)
Baamaaya
Bila
Bugla karo bandamdi ni kpa turi (Buɣla karo bandamdi ni kpa turi)
Those who move the buɣla door will ask for abuses. (Naa Ziblim Bandamda)
Dogim Malbu (Dɔɣim Malbu)
Repair a family (Savelugu-Naa Abukari Kantampara)
Dam' Duu (Dam' duu: jengbarga deei yu' biegu)
Dam' Duu (Dam' duu: jɛŋgbarga deei yu' biɛɣu)
Noise in a room: a rat gets a bad name. (Tali-Naa Alhassan)
Damba
Damba sochendi (Damba sochɛndi)
Damba walking
Dikala
Dimbu
Dogu (Doɣu) (aka Zuu-waa)
Gbon-waa (Gbɔŋ-waa)
Gbingbin' turi babli bincheralana, babli pa-bili.
Gbiŋgbiŋ' turi babli binchɛralana, babli pa-bili.
A chicken without feathers abuses a chick that it is badly covered, the young chick will someday grow feathers. (Bimbila-Naa)
Gbungbil' Leli (Gbungbil' Lɛli)
The place where lions sleep, you will find a bone there. (Tugulana Iddi)
Gonja Damba (Zabag' Damba ) (Zabaɣ' Damba)
Jera (Jɛra)
Jergu Dari Salima (Jergu dari salima: o dari la yendana bini)
Jɛrgu Dari Salima (Jɛrgu dari salima: o dari la yɛndana bini)
If a foolish person buys gold, he is buying it for a person who has sense. (Gushe-Naa Bukari)
Kulnoli (Kulnoli din viela ni lagim nyurba)
Kulnoli (Kulnoli din viɛla ni laɣim nyurba)
The river bank where water is good will gather water-drinkers. (Naa Mahamadu)
Kondalia
Kookali
If a problem comes to you, you have to use your knowledge to solve it. (Banvimlana Mahama)
Kuga mini kasalli (Kuga mini kasalli nmrri tom nangbankpeeni, kuga di mali karimbaani, kasalli ku dem nini)
Kuɣa mini kasalli (Kuɣa mini kasalli ŋmɛri tom naŋgbankpeeni, kuɣa di mali karimbaani, kasalli ku dɛm nini)
Mahoghany and milkweed are arguing: mahoghany should not be proud; milkweed will not play with the eyes. (Naa Ziblim Bandamda)
Kulunku kulunku, lagim kobga, ku nmani paanga
Kulunku kulunku, laɣim kɔbga, ku ŋmani paaŋa
If kulunku insect gathers to be a hundred, it will still not be a cricket. (Naa Ziblim Kulunku)
Kurugu Kpaa
Termites cannot overcome an iron spike. (Dakpɛma Suŋna)
Lua
Mazadaji
Malimi So
Do someone good: if you do somebody good, somebody will do you good; if you do somebody bad, somebody will do you bad.(Nanton-Naa Alaasambila)
Naanigoo
Promise with thorns (Naa Andani)
Naawun' Bor Duniya Malgu (Naawun' bor duniya malgu, ka ninsal' deei duniya malgu)
Naawun' Bɔr Duniya Malgu (Naawun' bɔr duniya malgu, ka ninsal' deei duniya malgu)
God wants to make the world well, but human beings don't want Him to make it well. (Nanton-Naa Sule)
Nagbiegu (Naɣbiɛɣu) (Naa Abilaai)
Nagbiegu (Doo be nye to, dapala, kumahin, Nahu Bimbiegu)
Naɣbiɛɣu (Doo bɛ nyɛ tɔ, dapala, kumahin, Nahu Bimbiɛɣu)
A man hasn't got his fellow man, and he's boasting. (Mionlana Sumaani)
Nag' biegu (Naɣ' biɛgu) (Naa Abilaai)
Bad Cow
Nag' Bimbiegu (Naɣ' Bimbiɛɣu)
Cow Bad Thing
Nagbiegu maa m-bala (Naɣbiɛɣu maa m-bala)
Bad Cow, that is it.
Tingma tingma, Nahu Bimbiegu (Tiŋma tiŋma, Nahu Bimbiɛɣu)
Cut off, cut off, Bad Cow
Nakohi-waa (Nakɔhi-waa)
Butchers' dance
Nantoo Nimdi (Nantoo nimdi, kagli sundi)
Nantoo Nimdi (Nantoo nimdi, kaɣli sundi)
Anthrax meat, vultures are disturbed. (Naa Yakuba)
Nayig' Naa Bori Yonyom (Nayig' Naa bori yonyom, bundana bi gbihi ti gari kpugi)
Nayiɣ' Naa Bɔri Yonyom (Nayiɣ' Naa bɔri yonyom, bundana bi gbihi ti gari kpuɣi)
The chief thief is in a hurry, but the owner of the thing is not yet asleep. (Diarilana Mahama)
Nayig' Naa Zan Bundan' Bini (Nayig' Naa zan bundan' bini n-nmalgi son bundan' dooshee)
Nayiɣ' Naa Zaŋ Bundan' Bini (Nayiɣ' Naa zaŋ bundan' bini ŋ-ŋmalgi sɔŋ bundan' dooshee)
The chief thief took a rich man's thing and turned around an put it back again at the rich man's sleeping place. (Diarilana Mahama)
Ninsal' Ka Yeda (A yi ninsal' yeda, a do a zagim)
Ninsal' Ka YÉ›da. (A yi ninsal' yɛda, a dɔ a zaɣim)
If you trust a human being, you are lying down naked.
Ninsal' yelgu kobga, Naawuni yelgu zag' yini gari li
Ninsal' yɛlgu kɔbga, Naawuni yɛlgu zaɣ' yini gari li
The talk of a hundred people, one word of God is more than it. (Tolon-Naa Yakubu Alhassan Tali)
Ninsala M-Bie (Ninsala m-bie, Naawuni bi bie)
Ninsala M-Biɛ (Ninsala m-biɛ, Naawuni bi biɛ)
A human being is bad; God is not bad. (commoner)
Niri num bi nin zamba ku chirgi bieri
Niri ŋum bi niŋ zamba ku chirgi biɛri
If you do not do bad, you will not come to meet bad. (Naa Abudu)
Nyagboli (Nyaɣboli)
Nyindogu (Nyindɔɣu)
Num Bie N-kpan (Num bie n-kpan, nuna n-yeri ni tima naaya)
Ŋum Biɛ N-kpaŋ (Ŋum biɛ n-kpaŋ, ŋuna n-yɛri ni tima naaya)
The person who has recovered from sickness is the one who says the medicine is finished. (Savelugu-Naa Yakuba)
Num Bie N-Kpan (Num bie n-kpan, o je n' o kpee kpan)
Ŋum Biɛ N-Kpaŋ (Ŋum biɛ n-kpaŋ, o jɛ n' o kpee kpaŋ)
Someone who was sick and recovered does not want someone who is also sick to be cured. (Savelugu-Naa Yakuba)
Nun Ka Yinga (Nun ka yinga bini nya maana, wuntizora m-mali)
Ŋun Ka Yiŋa (Ŋun ka yiŋa bini nya maana, wuntizɔra m-mali)
If you have something in your house and you are not there, and the thing is going to spoil, someone who fears God will keep it well for you.
Pohim Zheri (Pohim zheri yuyu, churi di mali karimbaani)
Pɔhim Ʒɛri (Pɔhim ʒɛri yuyu, churi di mali karimbaani)
Wind is blowing clay pots, calabashes should not be proud. (Savelugu-Naa Ziblim)
Sanmari Gon (Sanmari gon ku zani tinga)
Saŋmari Gɔŋ (Saŋmari gɔŋ ku zani tiŋa)
A curved star will not stand on the ground. (Naa Abilabila)
Salinsaa Bili Kobga (Salinsaa bili kobga, o yen yigimi)
Salinsaa Bili Kɔbga (Salinsaa bili kɔbga, o yɛn yiɣimi)
An ant grows feathers, it is going to fly. (commoner)
Setan' Kugli (Setan' kugli, bilim kunma)
Setaŋ' Kuɣli (Setaŋ' kuɣli, bilim kuŋma)
An anvil stone doesn't mind rolling. (Naa Abudu)
Tora (Tɔra)
Taachi
Takai
Tiban Taba (Tibaŋ Taba) (Savelugu-Naa Mahami)
Toli be mi ka sakogu be
Toli be mi ka sakɔɣu be
Locusts are there and a grasshopper is also there. (Mionlana Andani)
Tuubaankpilli (Tuubaaŋkpilli)
Worbar' sochendi
Wɔrbar' sochɛndi
(horses walking on the way)
Yem yagi ninyino malbu
Yɛm yaɣi ninyino malbu
Wisdom is more than one person can hold. (Tolon-Naa Yakubu Alhassan Tali)
Yugimpini bili goo n-tilga tapaga
Yuɣimpini bili goo n-tilga tapaɣa
The small spiny porcupine does not fear being slapped. (Naa Andani Jɛŋgbarga)
Zamanduniya
Zamba kon yani ka nun zoori zooi
Zamba kɔŋ yani ka nuŋ zoori zooi
Enemies will work against a person, the one who is going to propser will prosper. (Gushe-Naa Bawa)
Zambalana Ton (Zambalana ton bari gbaag' o bia)
Zambalana Tɔŋ (Zambalana tɔŋ bari gbaag' o bia)
A wicked man's trap has caught his own child. (Kari-Naa Abukari)
Zhim Taai Kurugu
Ʒim Taai Kurugu
Blood touches iron. (Naa Alaasani)
Zhim Taai Kurugu (Zhim taai kurugu, ka jengbarsi wolinje)
Ʒim Taai Kurugu (Ʒim taai kurugu, ka jɛŋgbarsi wɔlinjɛ)
Blood touches iron, mice will try and fail. (Naa Alaasani)
Zhim Taai Kurugu (Zhim taai kurugu, ka chinchansi wolinje)
Ʒim Taai Kurugu (Ʒim taai kurugu, ka chinchansi wɔlinjɛ)
Blood touches iron, mice will try and fail. (Naa Alaasani)
Zhiri lagim kobga, yelmanli n-gari
Ʒiri laɣim kɔbga, yɛlmaŋli n-gari
Lies can gather to be a hundred; truth is more than all of them. (Naa Mahamam Bila)
Zuu-waa (aka Doɣu)
First-born's dance (Tonglana Yamusah)