The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance
This study examined the roles and cultural significance of Dagomba praise singers, praise singing, and praise naming in Northern Ghana. Central to the socio-cultural fabric of Dagomba society, these oral traditions preserve cultural identity, perpetuate historical narratives, and promote communal va...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Noyam Journals
2025-07-01
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| Series: | E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EHASS2025681.pdf |
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| author | Alhassan Yakubu Confidence Gbolo Sanka Osei Yaw Akoto Charity Azumi Issaka |
| author_facet | Alhassan Yakubu Confidence Gbolo Sanka Osei Yaw Akoto Charity Azumi Issaka |
| author_sort | Alhassan Yakubu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined the roles and cultural significance of Dagomba praise singers, praise singing, and praise naming in Northern Ghana. Central to the socio-cultural fabric of Dagomba society, these oral traditions preserve cultural identity, perpetuate historical narratives, and promote communal values. Guided by performance theory, the research investigated the nature of praise singing among the Dagomba people and the role of the praise singer within their cultural context. The study adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing purposive sampling methods to select bards, chiefs, and community members connected to royalty, who are primary targets of praise singing, and field notes, enabling a comprehensive understanding of these traditions. Findings revealed that Dagomba praise singing is deeply rooted in the community’s oral heritage, serving as a medium for the praise singer’s role as a reservoir of history, honoring achievements, and reinforcing social cohesion. The praise singer emerged as a cultural custodian, mediator, and performer, whose roles extend beyond entertainment to include preserving heritage and adapting traditional practices to contemporary contexts. The interplay between singing, naming, and the roles of praise singers underscored their collective contribution to the enduring relevance of Dagomba traditions. This study highlights the intricate connection between oral traditions and cultural identity and sheds light on their significance in preserving the Dagomba heritage amidst evolving societal dynamics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9eb4529c2df94367b89fd64655ef7fd7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2720-7722 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Noyam Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-9eb4529c2df94367b89fd64655ef7fd72025-08-20T03:31:57ZengNoyam JournalsE-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences2720-77222025-07-016812871306https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025681The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural SignificanceAlhassan Yakubu0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2181-2410Confidence Gbolo Sanka1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1253-5585Osei Yaw Akoto2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6014-7600Charity Azumi Issaka3https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9284-248XDepartment of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaThis study examined the roles and cultural significance of Dagomba praise singers, praise singing, and praise naming in Northern Ghana. Central to the socio-cultural fabric of Dagomba society, these oral traditions preserve cultural identity, perpetuate historical narratives, and promote communal values. Guided by performance theory, the research investigated the nature of praise singing among the Dagomba people and the role of the praise singer within their cultural context. The study adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing purposive sampling methods to select bards, chiefs, and community members connected to royalty, who are primary targets of praise singing, and field notes, enabling a comprehensive understanding of these traditions. Findings revealed that Dagomba praise singing is deeply rooted in the community’s oral heritage, serving as a medium for the praise singer’s role as a reservoir of history, honoring achievements, and reinforcing social cohesion. The praise singer emerged as a cultural custodian, mediator, and performer, whose roles extend beyond entertainment to include preserving heritage and adapting traditional practices to contemporary contexts. The interplay between singing, naming, and the roles of praise singers underscored their collective contribution to the enduring relevance of Dagomba traditions. This study highlights the intricate connection between oral traditions and cultural identity and sheds light on their significance in preserving the Dagomba heritage amidst evolving societal dynamics.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EHASS2025681.pdfpraise singingpraise singerpraise namesperformanceculturebards. |
| spellingShingle | Alhassan Yakubu Confidence Gbolo Sanka Osei Yaw Akoto Charity Azumi Issaka The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences praise singing praise singer praise names performance culture bards. |
| title | The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance |
| title_full | The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance |
| title_fullStr | The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance |
| title_short | The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance |
| title_sort | dagomba praise singers singing and naming roles and cultural significance |
| topic | praise singing praise singer praise names performance culture bards. |
| url | https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EHASS2025681.pdf |
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