RIDDLING AMONG THE DAGBAMBA

ABSTRACT

This study discusses Riddling (Salinlɔha) among the Dagbamba in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study shows that the Dagbamba riddle has the antecedent and a response and an opening formula as the basic structure. It is also shown that there may be a semantic fit or mismatch with the relationship between the antecedent and the response. There are three types of Dagbamba riddles; these include the simple riddle, the tone riddle and the song riddle. The song riddle is peculiar because, apart from it been sang as a song, it is also accompanied with gestures and dance during its enactment. It is also revealed that the Dagbamba riddle has various stylistic properties which include alliteration, metaphor, parallelism, imagery, ideophones, symbolism, personification, repetition, pilling or linking, assonance and also violates social norms.