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The Anlo Ewe are a sub-group of the Ewe people of approximately 6 million people, inhabiting southern Togo, southern Benin, southwest Nigeria, and south-eastern parts of the Volta Region of Ghana; meanwhile, a majority of Ewe are located in the entire southern half of Togo and southwest Benin. They are a patrilineal society governed by a hierarchal, centralized authority. Their language is a dialect of the Ewe language, itself part of the Gbe language cluster. The Ewe religion is centered on the Supreme God, Mawu and several intermediate divinities. Christianity has been accepted in every part of Anlo Ewe land, with a minority of people still practicing traditional Vodun beliefs. The Vodu religion is slowly becoming a previous religion among the Anlo Ewes, with the youth of the community today practicing Christianity much more. However, those who still practice the Vodu religion also believe their tradition is a factor that keeps integrity and probit, while Christianity stands to pave way for integrity, honesty and probity to be washed away as years go by. It is for this reason that some Anlo Ewe people do away with Christianity when it comes to issues of accountability.
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Agbadza is an Ewe music and dance that evolved from the times of war into a very popular recreational dance. It came from a very old war dance called Atrikpui and usually performed by the Ewe people of the Volta Region of Ghana, particularly during the Hogbetsotso Festival, a celebration by the Anlo Ewe people. In addition, it is also performed by Togolese and Beninese of Ewe descent. The dance has five movements in performing it, 1. Banyinyi which is a short introductory in prayer to the gods and ancestors, 2. Vutsortsor which is the main dance, 3. Adzo- which is less energetic and only the master is made to drum along with Gankogui and Axatse, 4. Hatsatsa- historical songs are performed along with Gankogui and Atoke, 5. Vutsortsor- finally, another round of the main dance which usually last for a number of hours. Gankogui is an instrument in a form of a bell where a stick is used to play. Atoke is also an iron banana shaped bell and played with a small forged iron rod. The Atoke can be used in place of the Gankogui they are both used for the same purpose.
Francis Agbodeka was a Ghanaian academic and writer. He was a professor of history at the University of Cape Coast, and the first person to obtain a doctorate degree from the University of Ghana.
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References
- ↑ "Kobla Ladzekpo Archives". Alternative Radio. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- 1 2 "Kobla Ladzekpo". African Studies Center. University of California, Los Angeles . Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ↑ Isaac (2023-09-22). "Why I Teach Ewe Music". The Saklan School. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ↑ "Kobla Ladzekpo". The Daily Bruin . University of California, Los Angeles . Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ↑ Peek, Phil (1970). "Review of Ewe Music of Ghana; Music of the Idoma of Nigeria: Ediigwu Sings the Ancient Songs of Oturkpo, Nigeria, Odejo, Aboje". Ethnomusicology. 14 (2): 369–371. doi:10.2307/849809. ISSN 0014-1836. JSTOR 849809.
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