Fanga is a dance "interpretation of a traditional Liberian invocation to the earth and sky". The dance originated in Liberia or Sierra Leone.
The first performance of a version of ''Fanga'' in the United States may have been by
Asadata Dafora in 1943; Marcia Ethel Heard believes that
Pearl Primus
Pearl Eileen Primus (November 29, 1919 – October 29, 1994) was an American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist. Primus played an important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences. Early in her career she saw the need ...
hid Dafora's influence on her work.
The dance was written by Primus in 1959 in conjunction with the National Dance Company of Liberia. ''Fanga'' was one of the dances through which Primus sought to stylize and perpetuate African dance traditions by framing dance as a symbolic act, an everyday practice, and a ceremony.
It was then further popularized by Primus' students, sisters
Merle Afida Derby
Merle may refer to:
People
*Merle (given name), a given name used by both men and women
*Merle (surname), a surname of French origin
Others
*Merle (dog coat), a pattern in dogs’ coats
*Merle (grape), another name for the wine grape Merlot
*Akaf ...
and
Joan Akwasiba Derby Joan may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters
*:Joan of Arc, a French military heroine
*Joan (surname)
Weather events
*Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multiple ...
.
Babatunde Olatunji
Michael Babatunde Olatunji (April 7, 1927 – April 6, 2003) was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist, and recording artist.
Early life
Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Niger ...
described Fanga as a dance of welcome from Liberia and he, and many others, used a song created by LaRouque Bey to go with the rhythm and dance, assisted by some of the students in his Harlem studio, during the early sixties. Bey used words from the Yoruba and Vai languages (alafia = welcome; ashe = so be it; fanga = drum) and an African American folk melody popularized by American minstrels (
Li'l Liza Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane", "Liza Jane", and "Goodbye Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and blu ...
).
[https://www.rhythmbridge.com/fanga/]
Notes
References
*
*
*
*
Further reading
*
External links
* {{cite web, url=http://www.drbobsh.net/mp3/01%20Fanga.mp3 , title=Fanga , website=Bob's House , year=2008 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723103339/http://www.drbobsh.net/mp3/01%20Fanga.mp3 , archive-date=2011-07-23 , format=MP3
African dances
Liberian music
Modern dance
Ritual dances