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On a busy Saturday dawn in Accra, the Manklalo Cultural Group found themselves preparing for not one, but two major performances in one day, one at the arts center and the other at the Labadi beach hotel. It was a feat made possible by a bold decision. The group divided itself into two teams so they could be at two venues simultaneously and still deliver the same high‑energy, culturally rich performance that they are known for.

The membership of the group has grown significantly, thanks to a recent recruitment drive, new dancers, singers and instrumentalists had joined the troupe, expanding their numbers to about twenty members in total. The expanded roster now consisted of vocalists, dancers and instrumentalists, allowing the group to field two full‑sized squads on the same day without diluting their sound or stage presence.

The first gig which occurred at the Arts Center kicked off in the city festival celebrating Ghanaian heritage. Team A arrived in traditional Ghanaian attire, colourful kente cloth, adinkra‐printed wraps, beads and bells. The dancers launched into performances of the lively Kpanlogo, the graceful Adowa and the rhythmic Agbadza. The instrumentalists played the traditional instruments, while the singers lifted their voices. The crowd was thrilled and participated with excitement. 

Meanwhile, Team B staged a terrific performance at the Labadi Beach Hotel, a concert blending folk traditions with highlife music. With no downtime for rest, the group appeared on stage just hours later, similarly attired and equally poised. They performed the same repertoire made of traditional dance segments from Kple, Bamaya and Kpanlogo interwoven with soulful singing and rhythmic drumming.

By splitting into two groups, the Manklalo Cultural Group demonstrated not only logistical savvy but also deep commitment to their mission, which is preserving Ghanaian cultural dance and music traditions and presenting them in dynamic, live‑performance settings. The addition of new members had proved invaluable, not only did they increase the group’s membership to about twenty, but they provided enough depth and flexibility to operate two parallel performances on the same day.

At both events, the message was the same, culture, heritage and tradition, when brought together, raises the spirit and soul of the community.

Published 2024