“Baamaya” used to be a very important ritual dance that was a way for the people in a village in Ghana to implore the gods to send them rain. Now, Baamaya is performed at funerals. The procession (sochendi) and the main part ( the mangli) have remained the same. But the costumes , as shown in the video are different. The idea was to dress up as women but we saw in the video that was taken in modern times that it was performed by people in jeans. The talking drums and flute part are the same. Th overall meaning is different but the practices are the same. No it is a cute cultural dance but it used to be a real cry for rain. The changes are neutral, I dont think they are negative or positive, they just a show how things are different in modern times.
“The Washerwoman’s Branle” was dance that acted out a washerwoman’s washing routine. At the time it was a very prestigious dance that was the hallmark of a “cultured” person. The music is monophonic and it has a duple meter. This remained the same. Nowadays this dance is funny and odd. Its not “cultured” at all. This is also neutral and just a consequence of modern times.
I agree that the “Washerwoman’s Branle”, has suffered a consequence. The dance use to be a dance that people often cared about and was used as a way to attract a partner. Today it is used in a sense of funniness. It is a dance that is not cared about anymore.
Your explanation of “Baamaya” was interesting to read because in my blog I wrote something different. I think reading your opinion on if it was negative or positive gave me another point to consider. For your point on “The Washerwomen’s Branle” I agree with you because today doing that dance would not help you find a mate. It is interesting how some things change and other things remain the same.
I agree with what you said about the “The Washer Branle” facing the consequences of modernity. Since no one really performs this dance to gain a partner anymore, they are not taken as seriously as it once did. The culture is also not appreciated as we saw in the video. Although, they were performing the dance like it was meant to, they seem to find it a bit odd and funny like you have mentioned.
I think that the changes aren’t neutral, but I can’t tell if they are positive or negative. Although change can be good, the fact that their original dance and costume wear in the Baamaaya is different may have taken some of the originality that the dance had and could have changed for the worse.