DANCE WITHOUT MUSIC: IS THE TALKING DRUM INDISPENSABLE IN AFRICAN PERFORMANCE?

Dance is the outward rhythmic expression of inner emotion that compliments a good rhythm and is performed within time and space. Although some dance scholars and performers, notable among who is Susanne Kircher, have tried to experiment with unaccompanied dance movements; the notion of dance without music appears to be the exception rather than the rule especially in African where the irresistible pull of the talking drum draws the young and old to the dance arena. Drums are the dominant musical instruments in African performances. The lead drum in any ensemble is the talking drum which is a melorhythmic instrument that dominates as a medium of communication. Ugoamaka dance has over the years utilized the dynamic abilities of the talking drum to enhance the overall impact of its performances. Using the qualitative method of field and library research, this paper studies the role of the talking drum in African music ensemble and the relationship between music and dance in African indigenous performances.