Non-Verbal Communication of bin-ŋmaa and zuɣ'pilgu among Dagbamba

This paper discusses the non-verbal communication (NVC) of bin-ŋmaa ‘smock’ and zuɣ’pilgu ‘hat’ among Dagbanli speakers known as Dagbamba in the northern region of Ghana. The paper examines bin-ŋmaa and zuɣ’pilgu from the general premise of non-verbal communication by considering the cultural and social contexts of the Dagbamba society. The paper seeks to, in line with the theory of semiotics, highlight some signs and symbolic meaning of bin-ŋmaa and zuɣ’pilgu in the Dagbamba mythology. Through participant observation, interviews and content analysis, the paper posits that the artistic performance of bin-ŋmaa and zuɣ’pilgu is rooted in the Dagbamba tradition. The bin-ŋmaa and zuɣ’pilgu are not only aesthetically applied but they communicate the values of the Dagbamba.