As conversations about Ghana’s traditional dances evolve, the Efadzinam Borborbor Band is setting the record straight.
Lizabeth Akusika Bada, the band’s Public Relations Officer, has addressed and dismissed the growing misconception that associates Borborbor with twerking.
Lizabeth passionately underscored the need to respect and preserve the authenticity of Ghana’s cultural heritage.
She clarified that while the dance involves waist movements, it is rooted in tradition, ceremony, and communal celebration, not sensual or provocative dance styles.
“Twerking has nothing to do with Borborbor. Twerking is on its own, but Borborbor has nothing to do with twerking because growing up, we had games that involved using your waist. Borborbor is not the only dance that uses the waist.
“We have Kpanlogo, which is more or less a seduction dance. So Borborbor has nothing to do with twerking or sexual dancing. It’s just culture that was left for us, and we are preserving it.”
Lizabeth Akusika Bada
Her comments highlight the need to respect the integrity of traditional dances like Borborbor, which is deeply rooted in the heritage of the Ewe people of Ghana’s Volta Region.
Borborbor, a traditional dance of the Ewe people in Ghana, is characterized by rhythmic movements, vibrant music, and a communal atmosphere.
It is often performed during various ceremonies, including weddings, festivals, and communal gatherings. The dance is not merely a form of entertainment; it serves as a vital conduit for storytelling, allowing performers to express their cultural narratives, beliefs, and values.
Each movement in the dance carries meaning, often reflecting the community’s history and social dynamics. In contrast, twerking, which has roots in various African and Caribbean dance forms, has been commercialized and often divorced from its cultural context in Western popular culture.
Known for its vibrant drum rhythms and graceful waist movements, the dance is a symbol of unity, celebration, and identity, not sensuality.
Moreover, the conflation of borborbor with twerking perpetuates a broader trend of cultural appropriation, where elements of African culture are commodified and stripped of their context.
This trend not only misrepresents the original dance forms but also diminishes the cultural heritage they represent.
Band on Borborbor Not Getting Recognition
The Efadzinam Borborbor Band is calling for renewed efforts to promote and preserve one of Ghana’s most vibrant traditional dance and music types.
The band’s Public Relations Officer, Lizabeth Akusika Bada, emphasised that the dance is not getting the recognition it truly deserves. “Borborbor is not getting where it’s supposed to get to because it’s one of the cultural dances we have in Ghana, and typically from the Volta Region, which is very beautiful,” she said.
While often performed at funerals, wake-keepings, and social gatherings, Borborbor holds much more than entertainment value—it is a celebration of identity, rhythm, and heritage.
According to Lizabeth, confining it to local events limits its potential and misrepresents its cultural weight.
“It’s not just about playing it at funerals and other gatherings—it has this beautiful culture that should be known to the world. That’s what the Efadzinam Borborbor Band seeks to do: promote and preserve the culture. We don’t have to forget it or put it behind us.”
Lizabeth Akusika Bada
The Efadzinam Borborbor Band is on a mission to bring this traditional Ewe dance to larger platforms and introduce it to new audiences, especially the younger generation.
Through performances, cultural showcases, and education, the group hopes to elevate the dance from a community staple to a national and international cultural treasure.
The Efadzinam Borborbor band is passionate about promoting the beautiful culture of dance and music.
The band, even though new, is known for its vibrant display of dance and also a classic rendition of songs.
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