#Throwback (January 25, 2012): Controversy as Bukom Banku lays claim to Azonto

The debate over who is the originator of the popular “Azonto” dance is far from over as boxer cum comedian, Braimah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku is claiming ownership of the dance.

The origins of Azonto, which has become the hottest dance in Ghana today and has even gone international, have been hotly contested.

While one school of thought believes that it is a neo-traditional dance of the Ga people in the Greater Accra Region such as “Apaa” or “Gombe”, others say it emanated from the creativity of some Ghanaian dancers which was taken onto the world stage by Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, who dances Azonto whenever he scores a goal.

But Bukom Banku has challenged those stories claiming that he originated the dance and last Saturday put up quite a show at the T-Havana Park at Tema Community Nine to prove that he is the king of Azonto.

While speaking on Adom FM’s entertainment programme, Adom Billboard, two weeks before, Bukom Banku contested the name Azonto being used for the dance saying its original name is “Tso Ye Osee” which in the Ga dialect literally means “there is a tree behind you so watch your back” and that was when he issued the challenge that he was ready to battle whoever believed could dance better than him.

True to his words he displayed a high sense of creativity, artistry and flair as he danced his version of Azonto to the admiration of the patrons who had gathered at the park.

His dance was characterized by movements such as washing, driving, ironing as well as boxing.

Patrons of the show shouted and applauded with joy as they watched the talented boxer do his own thing with some of them. Young and old, male and female, who believed in their dancing skills gave him stiff opposition as they also exhibited marvelous moves.

Speaking with Adom Entertainment News later, Bukom Banku said that he was impressed with the talents he saw in Tema.

“There are great crop of dancers in Tema but their style of Azonto is more of a formation dance and not the original Azonto,” he said.