Nafana women play calabash rattles as they sing songs associated with customary puberty and marriage celebrations at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Two women from Ahenkro are joined (left) by District Chief Executive Mary Komeh (white blouse). Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
A Nafana hunter from Fawoman performs a hunter's dance at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Crouched in front of a pot that was smashed in an earlier dance, he clenches a bundle of leaves in his teeth as he assumes an animal's posture. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Nafana men from Fawoman perform a hunter's dance at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Crouched on the ground, the men enact the process of tracking an animal as women sing and men drum in the background. The man in the front holds a gun. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Nafana potters from Dorbour sit behind a display of their wares during a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Arrayed in front of them are pottery jars of varying size and a single small bowl. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
During a performance of songs and dances associated with puberty (Manaa Ndiom) and marriage (Bijam) celebrations as practiced in Boase, elder Afua Gyakari holds a microphone as she sings surrounded by other elders, including Boase chief Tolԑԑ Ligbi Wulotei (wearing a black-and-gold cap). Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Nafana potters from Dorbour demonstrate their potting practices during a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Two women (Mary Yakosua, left) are in the process of forming the upper bodies of jars using clay that they brought from Dorbour. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Women from Boase sit together under a canopy at a heritage celebration organized by the Banda Heritage Initiative. Young women dressed in attire associated with marriage (Bijam) and puberty (Manaa Ndiom) celebrations are seated in the center. To the left are three large calabashes filled with water on which the women will float smaller calabash bowls. These are used as drums to accompany songs sung during marriage and puberty celebrations. Ahenkro, 28 June, 2019.
Heritage; Community event; Drums (musical instrument); Rites and ceremonies; Nafana (African people); Gourd, Calabash; Puberty rites; Marriage customs and rites
