The drummers begin, and an aunt rises from her seat, wraps her cloth tighter and moves into the space in front of the high table. Her hands tell a story as she dances adowa. Guests cheer and press notes onto her forehead. At Ghanaian weddings, traditional dance is often the moment when the celebration becomes truly joyful.
Adowa and kete
Adowa is an Akan dance known for its graceful hand and foot movements. It is performed at funerals, festivals and celebrations, and dancers use gestures with meanings that knowledgeable audiences understand. Kete is a royal Asante dance associated with chiefs. It is performed with drums and is often seen at grand traditional weddings in the Ashanti Region.
Agbadza, borborbor and kpanlogo
Agbadza is an Ewe dance that began as a war dance and became a social dance. Dancers move their upper bodies and arms like wings, and it is popular at weddings in the Volta Region.
Borborbor, another Ewe dance from the northern Volta Region, is a lively recreational dance associated with community celebrations and churches. Kpanlogo, a Ga dance from Accra, emerged in the mid-twentieth century. It is playful and energetic, accompanied by kpanlogo drums and songs.
Northern dances and hiring a troupe
Dances such as bamaya and takai from northern Ghana are performed at celebrations and add energy to weddings with northern heritage. Cultural troupes can perform traditional dances at receptions or traditional ceremonies. Agree on timing, costumes, number of performers and fees in advance. Some couples learn a traditional dance to perform together, often to the delight of elders.
Guests often place money on dancers’ foreheads or throw it around them as a sign of appreciation. Arrange for someone to collect it safely.
Mixing traditions and costumes
Couples from different ethnic groups can include dances from both families, giving each side a moment to celebrate their heritage. Some dances have cultural or royal significance. Ask elders before including them. If the couple plans to dance, rehearse with a cultural instructor. Troupes wear costumes suited to each dance, such as kente for adowa and colourful wrappers for agbadza.
A DJ can fill a dance floor with Afrobeats. When the drums of adowa or agbadza start, the elders get up, and that is often when the wedding feels most like home.
