The Traditional Performance Art of the Ewe People

From a Western understanding dance and music are separate activities but from the Ewe perspective dance and music go together and one does not exist without the other. Dancing and drumming have been culturally significant in Ghana since pre-colonial times. From colonization to modern independence, art has been used as a popular medium of expression for weddings, birthdays, funerals and festivals by Ghanaians. During the winter break from 26 December 2023 to 13 January 2024 I travelled to Ghana, Africa with Colorado State University to study the technique of the harmonizing relationship between dancers and drummers in a traditional music setting. I conducted ethnographic documentation and analysis about the artistic culture around dance and music to add to the knowledge about African arts, specifically the Ewe community, in Western academia. My methodology includes semi structured, and multiple interviews with key informants who had experience with either dancing, drumming, or both. I did observation and participant observation to understand the cultural, historical, and social structures to bolster my data gathering. Regarding the harmonizing relationship between dancers and drummers, my investigation illustrates how the Ewe perception of music and dance are a linear process and not separate. With this paper, I will argue that art is a core ingredient for community. My research study will result in a research paper and oral presentations to pave the way for bringing people in the USA an anthropological understanding of Ghanaian music and dance and how that bridges community.