SFDH Logo (tiny)

The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH)

Joseph Oyewusi

[ Home | About | Encyclopedia |
| Publications | Members ]

CLICK AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Joseph Oyewusi

BACKGROUND

Information: Joseph Oyewusi, teacher of Ghanian and Nigerian dance.


Joseph Oyewusi taught at the California University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp (now Stockton Folk Dance Camp) in 1970.

At Stanford, Joseph demonstrated various musical instruments used by the Yoruba, including the thumb and reed pianos, the West African talking drum, and various shakers and bells and discussed the costume he was wearing.

Also at Stanford, he performed six dances accompanied by recordings of African music: Jù Jú (a social dance); Bàtákoto (a religious dance sometimes adapted for the stage); Ìgbìn (a religious dance honoring Obatala, a Yoruba godling); Pálòńò (performed by young people on happy ceremonial occasions); Dance of the Water Spirit (danced on sand by young women to test the strength of their toes); and Highlife (a social dance originating from Ghana).

Dances Joseph taught include Bàtákoto, Highlife, Ìgbìn, Jù Jú, Pálòńò, Sákárà, The Beer Maker's Dance, and The Dance of the Water Spirit.


This page © 2018 by Ron Houston.
Please do not copy any part of this page without including this copyright notice.
Please do not copy small portions out of context.
Please do not copy large portions without permission from Ron Houston.