The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance
Alhassan Yakubu 
, Confidence Gbolo Sanka , Osei Yaw Akoto & Charity Azumi Issaka
Issue: Vol.6 No.8 Article 1 pp.1287 – 1306
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025681 | Published online 11th July, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study examined the roles and cultural significance of Dagomba praise singers, praise singing, and praise naming in Northern Ghana. Central to the socio-cultural fabric of Dagomba society, these oral traditions preserve cultural identity, perpetuate historical narratives, and promote communal values. Guided by performance theory, the research investigated the nature of praise singing among the Dagomba people and the role of the praise singer within their cultural context. The study adopted a qualitative approach, utilizing purposive sampling methods to select bards, chiefs, and community members connected to royalty, who are primary targets of praise singing, and field notes, enabling a comprehensive understanding of these traditions. Findings revealed that Dagomba praise singing is deeply rooted in the community’s oral heritage, serving as a medium for the praise singer’s role as a reservoir of history, honoring achievements, and reinforcing social cohesion. The praise singer emerged as a cultural custodian, mediator, and performer, whose roles extend beyond entertainment to include preserving heritage and adapting traditional practices to contemporary contexts. The interplay between singing, naming, and the roles of praise singers underscored their collective contribution to the enduring relevance of Dagomba traditions. This study highlights the intricate connection between oral traditions and cultural identity and sheds light on their significance in preserving the Dagomba heritage amidst evolving societal dynamics.
Keywords: Praise Singing, Praise Singer, Praise Names, Performance, Culture, Bards.
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Dr. Alhassan Yakubu is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of English at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana. His research interests span both oral and written literature, with a particular focus on the Dagomba oral tradition. His doctoral studies centered on Dagomba praise names and songs, reflecting his deep engagement with the ethnopoetic and literary significance of northern Ghanaian cultural expressions. In addition to his work on oral traditions, Dr. Yakubu is also interested in literacy and pedagogy, exploring effective strategies for enhancing language teaching and learning across diverse contexts.
Dr. Confidence Gbolo Sanka is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He holds a PhD in English with a focus on African literature. Dr. Sanka’s research interests encompass both oral and written African literature, with a particular emphasis on the Sisaala ethnic group of Ghana. His doctoral dissertation, The Sɩsaala Dirge: A Critical Analysis, examines the aesthetic, cultural, moral, and socio-political dimensions of the Sisaala dirge. The study highlights how the dirge serves as a platform for mourning while also reiterating cultural values such as respect for the aged, motherhood, industriousness, and verbal creativity. In addition to his dissertation, Dr. Sanka has contributed to various scholarly publications on areas such as gender studies, ecocriticism, postcolonialism, literary stylistics, literary theory, cultural studies, literary onomastics and so on. Dr. Sanka’s work reflects a deep commitment to exploring the intersections of literature, culture, and society, with a focus on preserving and understanding the rich oral traditions of Ghanaian communities.
Dr. Osei Yaw Akoto is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He teaches courses in English for Academic Purposes, Sociolinguistics, Discourse Studies, and Pragmatics. He is the founding President of the Ghana Names Society. His research interests include Linguistic Landscape, Onomastics, Corpus Linguistics, and ESP. He is the Founding President of the Ghana Name Society. He has published articles in high-ranking journals such as Onoma, International Journal of Multilingualism, Corpus Pragmatics, Ghana Journal of Linguistics and Linguistic Landscape.
Dr. Charity Azumi Issaka is a lecturer in English and a researcher whose academic interests span oral literature, environmental literature, and children’s literature. With a strong foundation in literary studies, Dr. Issaka explores the intersection between traditional oral narratives and contemporary socio-cultural themes, particularly how these narratives reflect and critique ecological and communal values. She is especially passionate about the role of literature in shaping young minds and fostering environmental consciousness. Dr. Issaka has presented research at academic conferences and contributed to scholarly discussions that highlight the relevance of indigenous literary forms and environmental ethics in African literature. She is currently affiliated with the Department of English, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.
Yakubu, Alhassan, Confidence Gbolo Sanka, Osei Yaw Akoto and Charity Azumi Issaka. “The Dagomba Praise (Singers, Singing And Naming): Roles And Cultural Significance,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no.8 (2025): 1287 – 1306. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2025681
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
