Dagbui Mavis

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Name: Dagbui Mavis
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Birthplace: Dagabamete
Place of Residence: Dagabamete


Dagbui Mavis has completed Junior Secondary School, and plans to go to high school. Her musical proficiencies include dancing and singing, and she is a member of Adzogbor and Bobobor musical groups. She knows English. How did you learn music? I asked her. She said that her sister and herself were only 2 years old when Favour was taught singing and Mavis was taught dancing. Kwasi Davor a man in the village would invite all the children and he would teach drumming, dancing and singing and she learnt it from him. She said that girls did not learn drumming and women do not drum; they sing and dance. She sings songs like Gahua, Ampi (a game) and many other songs [Both women were unable to remember any more songs off the top of their heads. When asked if they think it is at risk for being forgotten if they can’t remember they said no no because they remember when they hear Kwasi playing- My question is what will happen when Kwasi is gone] Both women plan on teaching their children singing and dancing to pass on music. Music will continue to be transferred because Kwasi has older students of his to teach new ones. Both women believe that the old music will never be forgotten. The music has not changed. It is still the same words and the same steps. New music has been brought into the village however they coexists. Radio allowed the opportunity for them to hear Celine Dion, who is Mavis’s favorite singer whereas Favour’s favorite music is Bobobor. [This clearly is an example of how despite the presence of western music, traditional music is still of importance.

Interviewed by Jennifer Hermann in July 2008

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