The Dondo also
known as ‘Lunar’ in Dagomba is from the North West of Ghana. It
is a double ended hour glass drum which in the rest of West Africa is known
as the ‘talking drum’. The drum is held under the left arm and
played with a bent stick. The left arm is used to squeeze the leather string
which changes the pitch of the note. The tonal variation produces the
drum’s language.
The Brekete or ‘Gungon’ in Dagomba is from the North West of Ghana. It is a double ended cylindrical drum, with goat skin and snare made from a rope on both ends resting on the skin. The drum produces a very deep resonant and buzzing bass note.
The Dance
Bamaaya is a dance performed for the land God Tingban and commonly found
amoung the Dagombas of Northern Ghana. During a 19th century drought, it
was believed that prayers form women got a much quicker result, so the men
dressed in women's clothing to dance for Tingban, who was touched by their
plight and sent heavy rain. Since then, this dance has been performed at
thanksgiving for rain, but is also performed at funerals, festivals and other
national celebrations.
