Dogumbo Song

In remote areas of northern Ghana, the weekly outdoor market days in the centrally located villages usually develop into festive occasions, thanks to the presence of wandering musical groups like the one heard here. Beginning early in the day, they stroll through the marketplace, gradually accumulating a following of people who have finished with the day­s business and are now interested only in dancing leisurely along. By nighfall, the following has grown to include nearly everyone at the market. Finally, they all form a circle in which individual dancers perform short, expressive solos. The vocal style of this song, with its intricatem overlapping phrases sung in parallel harmonies, is characteristic of northern Ghana. The rattle heard in this recording – a small gourd containing dried seeds – is tossed back and forth between the player­s hands.