The drummers, singers and dancers of Kusum Gboo, Ghana's number one traditional music/dance group, last Friday put up a peppy performance at the British Council Hall in Accra to launch their latest music album, "Dekaworwor" (Unity).
The show which attracted a large crowd of foreign tourist, musicians, actors and press displayed what could be described as a kaleidoscope of distinctive elements of true African music and dance.
The drummers beat their drums with vim and zeal, the singers sang like birds while the dancers - soaked in sweat and steaming with energy - jumped, stomped, wriggled and twisted thier bodies, attracting standing ovations from the visibly excited audience.
When the group performed "Gbenga", a Senegalese music and dance piece, the crowd went wild as some of thme literally sprung from their seats and threw themselves into a state of wild dancing and clapping.
With a smooth presentation of one of the songs on their new, "Sankofa" (Go back to your roots) and as cultural ambassadors, Kusum Gboo drew the attention of their home fans to some of the negative traits of foreign cultures that were creeping into the Ghanaian culture.
The group also performed the title song, 'Dekaworwor', which flowed on flutes, heavy drumming and rhythmic percussion. The unity message in the song was presented in various Ghanaian languages including Hausa, Twi, Ga and Ewe.
The group originally known as People's Cultural Troupe, was formed in 1979 but adopted its present name, Kusum Gboo (Tradition never dies) under the leadership of the current director Richard Danquah who has vowed to keep the group together through thick and thin.
The president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and vice-president of the International Federation of Musicians , Alhaji Sidiku Buari, launched the album.
He commended the group for selling Ghana's rich music, dance and other cultural products abroad and expressed the music unions unflinching support for the group.
He also called on musicians to take advantage of the governments waiver of taxes on musical instruments to perform live. One of Ghana's best actors, David Dontoh auctioned the first autographied copies of the al;bim.
The MC for the event, MR. Gadogo who is also the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Dance Associated invited to the show failed to turn up, saying "when they need us to grace their functions for them they rush to invite us but when we need them to support us they do not turn up".
The drummers, singers and dancers of Kusum Gboo, Ghana's number one traditional music/dance group, last Friday put up a peppy performance at the British Council Hall in Accra to launch their latest music album, "Dekaworwor" (Unity).
The show which attracted a large crowd of foreign tourist, musicians, actors and press displayed what could be described as a kaleidoscope of distinctive elements of true African music and dance.
The drummers beat their drums with vim and zeal, the singers sang like birds while the dancers - soaked in sweat and steaming with energy - jumped, stomped, wriggled and twisted thier bodies, attracting standing ovations from the visibly excited audience.
When the group performed "Gbenga", a Senegalese music and dance piece, the crowd went wild as some of thme literally sprung from their seats and threw themselves into a state of wild dancing and clapping.
With a smooth presentation of one of the songs on their new, "Sankofa" (Go back to your roots) and as cultural ambassadors, Kusum Gboo drew the attention of their home fans to some of the negative traits of foreign cultures that were creeping into the Ghanaian culture.
The group also performed the title song, 'Dekaworwor', which flowed on flutes, heavy drumming and rhythmic percussion. The unity message in the song was presented in various Ghanaian languages including Hausa, Twi, Ga and Ewe.
The group originally known as People's Cultural Troupe, was formed in 1979 but adopted its present name, Kusum Gboo (Tradition never dies) under the leadership of the current director Richard Danquah who has vowed to keep the group together through thick and thin.
The president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and vice-president of the International Federation of Musicians , Alhaji Sidiku Buari, launched the album.
He commended the group for selling Ghana's rich music, dance and other cultural products abroad and expressed the music unions unflinching support for the group.
He also called on musicians to take advantage of the governments waiver of taxes on musical instruments to perform live. One of Ghana's best actors, David Dontoh auctioned the first autographied copies of the al;bim.
The MC for the event, MR. Gadogo who is also the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Dance Associated invited to the show failed to turn up, saying "when they need us to grace their functions for them they rush to invite us but when we need them to support us they do not turn up".
