The Winneba Fancy Dress Festival: Colours of Emblems and Costumes, and Their Influence on Masqueraders Performances

Abstract

Despite the special prominence of colours in any visual design and acts, costumes and acts and their relative importance displayed in the Winneba Fancy Dress (Masquerade) festival have not been investigated. The study adopted a qualitative research approach to understand the importance of colours of costumes and acts and their roles in the Winneba Fancy Dress (Masquerade) festival. Five groups were purposively selected for the study. Observation and interviews were employed as data collection methods. The data were analysed thematically. The study disclosed that colours used to display some cultures familiar among the Europeans, Americans, and Asians were displayed in the Masquerade Festival. Additionally, it was revealed that the colours used to make the costumes for the Masqueraders, to some extent, got them to act in ways based on the nature and colours of the costume. The study also found that the colours depicted unity, culture, and acting elements in the masquerade festival. In line with these findings, the study recommends that graphic designers experiment with more colours and costume displays during the Masquerade Festival to develop other eccentric harmonious colour costumes and acts applied in other traditions.

Keywords: Acts, colours, costumes, festival, masquerade.

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/99-03

Publication date: February 28^th 2022