A Drummer's Testament

drummers <Home page>

Chapter I-19:  Takai and Tɔra

<PDF file>

The Takai and Tɔra dances; their importance in community events



<top of page>

Supplementary material

Images  [more forthcoming]



Audio files

Use the audio player to stream a selection at higher quality.
For those with limited bandwidth or older browsers, click on the named link to play the selection at adequate quality in a separate tab or window.

Tora

Takai

Nyagboli

Kondalia

Nun Da Nyuli

Full Takai Suite  (28:54)


<top of page>

Contents outline and links by paragraph

Introduction

Tɔra

Tɔra performance

Tɔra’s origins

Tɔra’s beating

Takai

Takai’s importance

Takai drumming styles, drum language, and false meanings

How Takai evolved to include different dances

Beating and dancing Takai

Calling Takai

Takai performance

Conclusion



<top of page>

Proverbs, Sayings, and Songs

They pegged a corn cob and said it was a penis.

Chief called you and you refused.  Your flat buttocks!

The one who bought the yam, he has also bought the buttocks.

One yam can spoil fufu.

If a fish comes out of the water and tells you that a crocodile has one eye, you should believe the fish.

Turn and knock an old person on the head, kpai!  It doesn't matter.

Turn and knock a young person on the head, kpai!  It doesn't matter.

Watching is evidence of everything.

What you are holding now, you must hold it with your two hands.

They can deceive a blind person about everything except cold.

What our elders told us, that is what we give to our friends.

Don't go and carry useless people's talks into your better talks:  as for those who follow useless people, one day, if their anus is open and they are ashamed, you will not be involved.

If you look down upon what you are holding, you will sleep with hunger.

There is something sweet inside a cloth, there is something sweet inside trousers.

A woman who has no hair on the vagina shouldn't bend down when bathing.

Tall, skinny-legged person:  greet your home-town people.

Disturbance in a room; a mouse has got a bad name.

The one who has strength has the right.

If you buy something from someone, and you are taking it to do the same work as that person is doing, you can never be the equal of that person.

If they show you a crazy person and tell you to go and get a crazy person and bring him, if you can't get a crazy person, then you have to get a young person to stand for the crazy person.

The young people don't hear what people say:  that is why I call them crazy people.

An old man has got sense to do everything in the right way.


<top of page>

Dagbani words and other search terms


A bu na sichin zani daadi naa sichin woondo  (A bu na sichiŋ zani daadi naa sichiŋ woondo)

Bem bo ma be pam bo ma je  (Bɛm bo ma bɛ pam bo ma jɛ)

Dam’ Duu:  jengbarga deei yu biegu   (Dam' Duu:  jɛŋgbarga deei yu' biɛɣu)

Kawaan dibli, ka be zan kpa, ka ye ni yoli be; kawaan dibli, ka be zan kpa!  (Kawaan dibli, ka bɛ zaŋ kpa, ka yɛ ni yoli bɛ; kawaan dibli, ka bɛ zaŋ kpa!)

Man' dan yeli ka nyim' bi lan nya  (Man' dan yɛli ka nyim' bi lan nya)

Naa sa boon' a k'a zagsi.  A nyiri gbingbamba;  gbamba, gbamba  (Naa sa boon' a k'a zaɣsi.  A nyiri gbiŋgbamba;  gbamba, gbamba)

Nyu dam, ti nyu dam

Nun' da nyuli, nun da' gbini  (Ŋun' da nyuli, ŋun da' gbini)

Pan kpil sal'lana su kom kul dam tinga  (Pan kpil sal'lana su kom kul dam tiŋa)

Sagsi zani ka nin bii zugu, kpai!  Dim pa taali  (Saɣsi zani ka niŋ bii zuɣu, kpai!  Dim pa taali)

Sagsi zani ka nin kpem' zugu, kpai!  Dim pa taali  (Saɣsi zani ka niŋ kpɛm' zuɣu, kpai!  Dim pa taali)

Simli bie manli, Nawulma  (Simli biɛ maŋli, Nawulma)

Takai m-bala

Zaan kum bemalana puhima ayaa nima  (Zaan kum bɛmalana puhima ayaa nima)

Zanm' ma bahi ka n chan tora ni.  Yee m bagu bo m-be tora ni  (Zaŋm' ma bahi ka n chaŋ tɔra ni.  Yee m baɣu bɔ m-be tɔra ni)

Maliymbila kam' na ka ti chan tora ni.  Yee m bagu bo m-be tora ni  (Maliymbila kam' na ka ti chaŋ tɔra ni.  Yee m baɣu bɔ m-be tɔra ni)