Ewe culture as expressed in Ghana West Africa through Adzogbo dance ceremony : a foundation for the development of interactive multimedia educational materials

This dissertation project is a preparation for development of a method for teaching traditional Ewe culture to people of Western or non-Ewe background, using dance ethnology as an approach to conducting research, and digital video recording as a means for documentation. The study focuses on one of the Ewe's oldest and most powerful religious dance and music ceremonies, Adzogbo, as it is performed by the Mawuli Kpli Mi Adzogbo Group from the village of Aflao in Ghana, West Africa.Adzogbo, originally from Dahomey (now Benin), was brought to Ghana in the late 19th Century, and was formally performed for the Dahomeyan war gods to transmit pertinent information to warriors preparing for battle. It is still considered one of the most complex dance and music systems, having intricate polyrhythmic texture and specific relationship between the master drummer and the vigorous and articulated movements of the dancers, which are emphasized by their elaborate costume.Presently, the dance functions as a recreational ceremony and is performed during specific special occasions. It is used to display mental, physical and spiritual power and still carries some of its original war dance characteristics.This project consists of a written thesis document and one hour digital video documentary of the Adzogbo Dance Ceremony, outlining its background and importance, form and structure, and a comparative analyses of the organization and structure of both the dance and music. The text provides information on Ewe culture, including their historical, social, and geographical background, their dance, music and related activities and an exploration of Interactive multimedia technologies to in future develop electronic educational material