Lizabeth Akusika Bada, the band’s Public Relations Officer, has addressed and dismissed the growing misconception that associates Borborbor with twerking.

Speaking on the E Vibes Musical Band Series with Becky, Lizabeth passionately emphasized the need to respect and preserve the authenticity of Ghana’s cultural heritage. She clarified that while Borborbor 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. Growing up, we had games that involved using the 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.”

Her comments highlight the importance of maintaining the integrity of traditional dances like Borborbor, which is deeply rooted in the heritage of the Ewe people of Ghana’s Volta Region. Known for its vibrant drum rhythms and graceful waist movements, Borborbor is a symbol of unity, celebration, and identity—not sensuality.

E Vibes, the show that explores the backgrounds of celebrated personalities excelling in their chosen fields, is focusing this season on music bands in Ghana.

Dubbed the #MusicalBandSeries, the program is dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the incredible journeys of Ghanaian musical bands—showcasing their triumphs, challenges, and the bonds that keep them together.

Some dance groups design costumes and rehearse performances ahead of major events. However, a few youth groups in an attempt to ‘spice up their show’ have introduced sexually suggestive dance moves also known as ‘twerking’ which natives consider unacceptable.

Indeed, the Paramount Chief of Anfoega Traditional Area, Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV, would tolerate none of such ‘profane borbobor’ when he sat at a durbar of chiefs during the Easter celebrations at Anfoega Akukome on Saturday April 16, 2022.

Activities lined up for the day took off smoothly until a borborbor group from one of the towns was called upon to entertain the gathering.

The group brought on their best performance, moving to rhythm and good tunes before the Master of Ceremony (MC) signalled them to call it off, apparently due to their seductive dance move and somewhat indecent outfit.

They defied the orders and continued the performance which prompted Togbe himself to step in and show them the exit.

“There is something called protocol but I will break it,” Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV said when he grabbed the microphone from the MC. 

“We don’t accept this type of dance here. Don’t come and perform this kind of dance in our midst ever again,” he fumed in the local dialect while the gathering responded with thunderous applause.

Other indigenes at the function also endorsed the ‘ruling’ of the Paramount Chief, and expressed reservations on how some young people have sought to change the face of ‘borborbor’ with ‘inappropriate’ dancing styles.

This isolated incident did not take away the splendour of the main event which was to raise funds for development and encourage citizens to reconnect back home.

Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV, in his address, highlighted various projects, including the re-construction of the Community Centre, the Catholic Hospital, and other self-help initiatives in the area.

He urged traditional leaders to lead by example and show commitment to the task they have been assigned, and further asked the citizens and political authority in the jurisdiction to support developmental efforts of the people.

Present at the celebration were Joyceline Tetteh, Member of Parliament for North Dayi, Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah, Member of Parliament for Ho West, Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, Edmund Attah Kudjoh, District Chief Executive for North Dayi, among others.

The dignitaries praised the unity among the indigenes and advised them to continue to give the traditional leaders the necessary support for the progress of the region.

John Dumelo Jnr, who is all grown up, proved himself to be a son of the soil when he showcased his cultural moves.

The two-year-old, who hails from Hohoe in the Volta Region, impressed his fans with the tribe’s popular Borborbor dance.

He was being tutored by his aunt who made it her motive to make Dumelo Jnr get the right steps to the dance.

They were happily dancing in their living room while watching some traditional clips on television, where they were emulating their dance from.

Despite being in a far away country in Montreal, Quebec, the family did not forget their roots, a video taken by Mrs Gifty Dumelo proved.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mrs Dumelo (@missgeeonly)