Unit 11 research, African dance

History of African Dance

Most African dance has originated years ago from tribes and been
passed down generations. Africa’s many tribes developed their
own dance style. Typically accompanied by vocals and percussive
music that varied from tribe to tribe. The tribe dances fall into
three separate categories, Ritual (religious), Ceremonial, and
Griotic (storytelling).

https://youtu.be/gDPdBiR5aoQ

https://youtu.be/0K1hjg4EYcg

Ritual Dance

The spiritual infuses every aspect of traditional African life. In

Zimbabwe, the Mbira was an all-purpose performance, danced by
the Shona people to summon ancestors, beseech the tribal
guardians, temper droughts and floods, honor death anniversaries,
seek guidance in tribal and family disputes, and even install a new
chief. Ritual dance is a unifier that enhances peace, health, and
prosperity.

https://youtu.be/EHun81u2l18

Ceremonial Dance

Ceremonial dance is performed at events such as weddings, anniversaries, rites of passage and
coming of age celebrations, the welcoming of visitors, the culmination of a successful hunt, and
other happenings shared by the whole tribe. The Maasai jumping dance is performed by the young
men of the tribe, who take turns leaping as high as they can to the music, in order to showcase their
stamina and strength.

https://youtu.be/OMiY-tjGnZU

Griotic Dance

A griot is an African bard, a tribal historian and storyteller. Griotic dances are story-dances, the oral
history of a people set to movement and music. The Lamba or Lamban was danced only by the
tribe's djeli or griot. Today, African dance troupes perform the exuberant, once-exclusive moves.

https://youtu.be/qCdbjq8aQ_Q
 Key stylistic features:
Characteristics of African Dance
•High energy
Most African dances are characterized by isolated movements.
•Grounded movements
Although the dances of varying tribes can differ drastically,
•Bouncing
many of them have been danced the same way for centuries.
•Rhythmic
The drum is a crucial component of African tradition in dance.
•Use of the torso and the chest
It is seen as the ‘heartbeat of the tribe’,
•Relaxed movement
setting the mood and serving as a communal point of energy
•Call and response with the
connecting tribal members together. Apart from the drum,
music
African dance is also characterized by the clapping of hands
•Use of feet, stomping for
and stomping of feet, maintaining a steady rhythm alongside example

with vocals from the tribes.

Key moves
Dinee
This is a famous African dance step that originated
from Zimbabwe. It is a celebratory dance for the
harvest time that mimics everyday movements such
as, holding a basket, farming and jumping.
https://youtu.be/4sWG_s0YayM

Traditional dances in Africa

African dances are participatory, with spectators being part of the performances. The
beauty of African is in the combination of music. Each tribe has their own traditional
dance and there are about 200 tribes in Nigeria, so therefore there are 1000s of
traditional African dances.
Esklsta Dance
This African dance style is famous for its enthuses and intense shoulder movements. The
dance is characterised by bouncing the shoulders and popping the chest. Esklsta
originated by a tribe in Ethiopia and is traditionally preformed to Ethiopian music.
Akbarza-Ghana
Akbarza is an airway music and dance, that evolved from the times of war to a very
popular recreational dance. It came from a very old war dance called atripol. It is
originally performed by the airway people of the Volta region of Ghana, particularly
during the Hobe Soto festival, a celebration by the Anglo-era people. This dance is also
seen in present day Togo, Benin and part of southwestern Nigeria. The dance is usually
played at funerals, weddings and parties. This dance is sometimes known as the ‘chicken
dance’, due to its bird like motions. Today Akbarza is the most famous airway dance.
Muwogola Dance, Uganda
Muwohola dance originates from Baganda tribe of Uganda, performed by the men and
women. It’s a social gathering dance, traditionally came from folk dancing and this dance
originated in the palace of the king of Buganda. The dance was a result of one Kabakka
of the Buganda palace, who got drunk of a local drink called tonto. He was dancing and
being jolly and then he was joined by the people around him, and this has seen a
celebration dance among the Baganda people ever since.
Chakala Dance, Kenya
Traditionally this dance is a particular music and dance style of the Swahili people,
people of Costa Kenya and Tanzania. It Is originally associated with weddings and
performed by the women. The women dress in very light transparent clothing and have
a belt around their waist for ease of movement. This dance is inspired by another style
named, Tarap, another type of style adapted in coast and mainly performed by women.
The hip swing movement of Chakala also bears some resemblance with Congolese Sukas
dance and middle eastern belly dance.
Aduma dance, Kenya/Tanzania
Aduma is a world-famous jumping dance, performed by Murani tribe. It is preformed
traditionally by warriors and protectors of the village at rites of passage and weddings.
The hypnotic song the ‘Morani’, would sing deep cultural drumming base call and the
women and children pitch in with high pitch responses. The ‘Morani’ stands in a circle,
bending at the knee and steadily bouncing on the downbeat of the chanting. One at a
time they enter the circle and preform the dance. A flat-footed jump into the air,
jumping as high as they can repeated over and over.
This dance is very competitive, whereby who ever jumps the highest wins bragging rights
in the village.
Bikutsi Dance
Bikutsi is a musical genre from Cameroon, which developed from styles of the Beti or
Iwondo people who live around the city of Yande. It is played at all sorts of events such
as parties, weddings and funerals. Bikutsi gatherings fall into two separate sections, the
bikoty phase and the aegon phase. Aegon phase is intensely musical and usually lasts all
night and there are poetic recitations accompanied by clapping and dancing with
interludes from improvised and sometimes obscene performances on the baua from a
type of xylophone. The interlude signals the shift to the Bikoty phase, which is less
strictly structured.
Umushagiriro Dance, Rwanda
This dance is known as a show dance, the title of this dance literally means to swing
elegantly. This dance was designed and developed with the royal court and has some
emulation among the notables. It evolves elegance and sophistication of the
composition and effects of the style and in choreography and singing. The dance is more
gentle and graceful. In Africa its graceful movements of the Rwanda women which
highlights kindness, goodness and purity. The movement in this traditional dance style is
based upon the Angkor cattle, the female dance is usually compared to ballet. It is
meant to display the beauty and grace of the women of Rwanda as they emulate
movements of cows and wildlife.