This paper examines the portrayal of personality in the Dagaaba dirge. The study highlights themes such as hospitality, bravery and beauty, which are attributes that depict personality among the Dagaaba. The study reveals that various expressions especially, metaphors are dominantly used in the Dagaaba dirge to depict the personality of the deceased. The study further shows that the understanding and interpretation of the metaphorical expressions in the dirge are based on how various entities are conceptualized with regard to the Dagaaba culture. The study was carried out in Eremon, Boo and Babile all in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Primary data were gathered from the field, transcribed and translated into English language for the analysis. The study adopted ethnographic design. The research resorted to a qualitative approach using descriptions through a Conceptual Metaphor Theory as a theoretical framework, which is based on the Dagaaba perspective and philosophical view of the world. Significantly, the research showed that the Dagaaba dirge is a powerful tool which shapes and guides society on its core values. It is also revealed that the Dagaaba dirge is a means for making fundamental philosophical statements to communicate the message of one’s life which is worth celebrating at one’s demise.

Keywords: Dagaaba, Dirge, Context, Performance Conceptual Metaphor