Gbofe is a performance that combines music with song and dance. It is believed that Gbofe horns are made from roots, which are covered in cowhide. The Gbofe is performed in Afounkaha in the Tagbana community of the Côte d'Ivoire.
The term Gbofe refers both to the transverse horns and to the entire performance that includes music, song and dance. In total, six of these horns are used with a length ranging from 50 to 70 centimetres, which are often used at one time. There are a variety of sounds that are emitted from them, which have the potential meaning of representing Tagbana words and phrases. In turn, the female choirs "translate" these words into English.
Gbofe music is composed of the rhythmic beat provided by the drums and the horns of the Gbofe accompanied by the sound of the horns providing the structure of the music. In the eyes of the locals, these dance steps symbolize the bravery, beauty, and victory of the warrior over a virtual enemy. There are various types of Gbofe played at ceremonial events and rituals, and the messages conveyed by them can vary depending on the circumstances: praise, love, satire, mourning, moral messages and so on.
The Gbofe played an important role in conferring respect to the holders of the tradition, and also conveyed a sense of identity to the communities of the Gbofe. The various Gbofe performers undergo an apprenticeship before performing on the stage. Families often pass down the know-how from father to son, but if there is an interest on the part of the young talent, there is the possibility of attendance at the training sessions.
In recent years, Gbofe, one of the most important ethnic groups of Côte d'Ivoire, has disappeared from various regions of the country, due to effects of the war, rural exodus, and industrialization. Although this group was reintroduced in some communities, it is still in danger of disappearing due to the conditions that exist today.
The young are becoming less and less aware of this tradition, which has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of people with knowledge of the rituals, skills to make the instruments, as well as similar declines in the number of dancers, singers and musicians who know the techniques and art of the dance, songs, and music.