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The debate over who is the originator of the popular “Azonto” dance is
far from over as boxer cum comedian, Braimah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku is
claiming ownership of the dance.
The origins of Azonto, which has become the hottest dance in Ghana
today and has even gone international, have been hotly contested.
While one school of thought believes that it is a neo-traditional
dance of the Ga people in the Greater Accra Region such as “Apaa” or
“Gombe”, others say it emanated from the creativity of some Ghanaian
dancers which was taken onto the world stage by Ghanaian striker
Asamoah Gyan, who dances Azonto whenever he scores a goal.
But Bukom Banku has challenged those stories claiming that he
originated the dance and last Saturday put up quite a show at the
T-Havana Park at Tema Community Nine to prove that he is the king of
Azonto.
While speaking on Adom FM’s entertainment programme, Adom Billboard,
two weeks before, Bukom Banku contested the name Azonto being used for
the dance saying its original name is “Tso Ye Osee” which in the Ga
dialect literally means “there is a tree behind you so watch your
back” and that was when he issued the challenge that he was ready to
battle whoever believed could dance better than him.
True to his words he displayed a high sense of creativity, artistry
and flair as he danced his version of Azonto to the admiration of the
patrons who had gathered at the park.
His dance was characterized by movements such as washing, driving,
ironing as well as boxing.
Patrons of the show shouted and applauded with joy as they watched the
talented boxer do his own thing with some of them.
Young and old, male and female, who believed in their dancing skills
gave him stiff opposition as they also exhibited marvelous moves.
Speaking with Adom Entertainment News later, Bukom Banku said that he
was impressed with the talents he saw in Tema.
“There are great crop of dancers in Tema but their style of Azonto is
more of a formation dance and not the original Azonto,” he said.
Credit: GhanaWeb
