An analysis on the cultural contexts of Bɔsoɛ as an endangered Asante traditional dance

ABSTRACT

The Asante people of Ghana bear rich and distinct cultures, which help place the nation on the globe. Albeit, a number of traditional dances as an aspect of Asante culture have been endangered or are getting endangered due to them not being well communicated within their cultural contexts to audiences, their dance elements being less known and less performed. This study was therefore conducted to analyse Bɔsoɛ, an endangered Asante traditional dance in Ghana culturally, to revive the lost parts of Asante culture to the present and upcoming generations. The study employed narrative research method under the qualitative research design where the Ammamerɛso Agofomma dance performers and the Head of Performing Arts, all of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Kumasi, were purposeively and conveniently selected to enact the dance and give narratives on the dance. Through semi-structured interview and non-participant observation, primary data comprising in-depth knowledge on the history, meanings, performance and other dance elements within Bɔsoɛ were collected from the respondents for the study. The results proved that there were aspects of Asante culture within Bɔsoɛ and hence must be viewed as an Asante repository to be communicated well per its cultural contexts to any viewer or appreciator.

KEYWORDS:

• Asante culture
• Asante traditional dances
• dance analysis
• dance elements
• endangered dances

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ronit Akomeah

Ronit Akomeah is a Ph.D. candidate in African Art and Culture at the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (DEIST), Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. Her field of research is centred on cultural education, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, traditional dances, performing arts, and cultural anthropology.

S. Kquofi

Steve Kquofi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (DEIST), Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His areas of expertise are varied and include cultural anthropology, history of art, sociocultural practices and environmental aesthetics, and aesthetics and criticism in sub-Saharan African art. He is also a researcher and writer. Besides, he is a prolific graphic artist designing for top corporate bodies in Ghana.

H. B. Essel

Harry Barton Essel is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of Department at the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology (DEIST), Faculty of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His areas of interest are Learning/Online Learning, HyFlex Course Design Model, Flipped Classroom Course Design Model, Massively Open Online Courses, Gamification, Computer-Based Assessments, Open-Ended Response Systems, Visual/Graphical Programming, Instructional Technology, Interactive Multimedia and Digital Illustration.

E. A. Asante

Eric Appau Asante is a Senior Lecturer, Program Coordinator Master of Education and Postgraduate Educational Innovations and Leadership Science, Assessment officer and KNUST’s affiliate colleges of Education Examinations Officer for Faculty of Educational Studies, KNUST. He has a reputation as a Teacher Educationist, art Aesthetician/researcher/and teacher with outstanding record of publications including scholarly articles, essays, and numerous professional research presentations. His praxis is rooted in engaged- teaching; one that produces learners with transformational agenda. He serves as a Board Member for Arts Council of the African Studies Association and a regular reviewer of several research and conference papers.