Fume Fume

Fume Fume (emphasis on the u) ( pronunciation Fume Fume ^?^/^I ) is a non-traditional dance and rhythm from Ghana .

origin

There are different versions of how Fume Fume came about. The most common one says that the internationally known Ghanaian master drummer Mustapha Tettey Addy created rhythm and dance for the stage (Ghana Dance Ensemble). As a basis he took a rhythm (also here: rhythm and dance, because in the Ghanaian or African tradition they always belong together) Tigali (or Tigare), which as a fetish rhythm has cultic and spiritual meaning and may not be used publicly or profanely .

Sometimes the fetish dances Nana, Kple, Akom, Otu, etc. are also used as rhythmic sources. a. called.

According to another version (by the Ghanaian master drummer Emmanuel Gomado) Mustapha Tettey Addy had only a small share in the rhythm. A drummer from Teshie (near Accra) was supposed to go to the Congo War and therefore looked for higher protection in various shrines in Ghana. He learned a lot in the process and years later created Fume Fume from this knowledge.

rhythm

Fume Fume belongs to the 12/8 rhythms.

The timeline (basic pattern ) is played on the double hand bell Gankogui (or Gangpavi "iron carries child"). In technical jargon, this rhythm figure is also called a five-beat 12-note clave .

Oprente - drum from Ghana

|: XXX.XX. : |

The two accompanying rhythms are played with the hands.

O = Open (hit on the fur edge)

B = bass (beat on the middle of the head)

S = slap (whip-like blow between the middle and the edge of the fur)

. = no blow

|: B..OO. : |

|: OOSBOO.S. : |

The master part consists of six parts, which are also defined in the process, of which there are variants. This Master Part is on the Oprente played a drum, which is also often used for fetish rhythms. Originally, Fume Fume was played slowly, but recently, like many rhythms, it is much faster.

dance

The dance consists (like the rhythm of course also) of a transitional part between the individual parts. The dancers walk in circles and put their feet in the beat. They clap their hands or make a movement in the air with their right hand. The actual dance parts follow the drum parts very closely. As mentioned above, there are six of them.

Since both rhythmic and dance structures are very variable in Africa, there are always changes and deviations in the form and design of the dance.

The dance part is structured as JH Kwabena Nketia describes it for the agbeko dance:

“It consists of a number of dance figures, each of which is introduced by a corresponding rhythmic figure played on the master drum and maintained throughout the execution of this figure. Each figure is repeated continuously for a period of time; it is linked to the next one through a series of movements designed to bring the dancers into a new starting position for the execution of the next figure. "

singing

A famous song for Fume Fume is this:

V = lead singer, C = choir

V: 2x Futrema ee ee, nana futrema ee ee

V: 2x Fume, Fume, futrema futrema daya

V: 1x nana futrema ee e

C: 2x Futrema ee ee, nana futrema ee ee

C: 2x fume, fume, futrema futrema daya

C: 1x nana futrema ee e

Single words mean something in this song. "Futrema" means cowries (which used to be a currency in West Africa) and "Nana" is probably a deity (Nana cult).

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Joseph H. Kwabena Nketia: The music of Africa. Heinrichshofen´s Verlag Wilhelmshaven 1979, p. 258

[1] Joseph H. Kwabena Nketia: The music of Africa. Heinrichshofen´s Verlag Wilhelmshaven 1979, p. 258