Friday 26 December 2014

Trditional Dance of Zulu Tribe in South Africa

Traditional Zulu dancing is an important part of the Zulu Tribe culture. Dancing is usually performed during a traditional Zulu Tribe ceremony, and is accompanied by vibrant singing and sometimes the beating of drums. Zulu dance is something quite spectacular, especially when the men and women are fully dressed in their traditional attire.It is customary that unmarried and young men dance, alternating in separate groups, occasionally the married women and men break in and join the festivities.

According to Zulu Tribe Culture thousands of Zulu Tribe virgins dance at the Enyokeni Zulu Tribe Royal Palace each September at the Reed Dance Festival, or Umkhosi Womhlanga. The tradition begins with the virgin maids gathering reeds from the river and bringing them to the Zulu king. The girls dance with the reeds in front of the king, and then he chooses his bride. Besides the bride choice, one of the main purposes of this ritual was to encourage girls to remain virgins until marriage.                  

Native to South African Music, the Zulu tribe has many rituals that have been passed from generation to generation over time. Dancing is one of the most common types of community rituals, and it is incorporated into most Zulu ceremonies. Zulu Tribe dances are signs of happiness and they occur when any significant event takes place.

Types of Zulu Dances

There are many types of Zulu Tribe dances besides the reed dance. The Ingoma dance is considered one of the most purist forms of Zulu Tribe dance, according to Zululand Ecoadventures. This dance is performed to a chant and during transition ceremonies, such as coming of age, weddings and pre-hunt or pre-battle time periods. The Ingoma is frantically danced and incorporates high kicking motions.

Bull Dance

Bull Dance a most popular dance that originated in the cramped confines of the mine dormitories imitating a bull with the arms held aloft and the legs brought down with a thump. The rural girls have their own version.

Music

Ingoma dances are done with the sounds of the dancers’ chants. In the Isishameni form of Ingoma, the boys and girls dance separately, and the opposite genders clap along for each other. The Indalamu dance is done with drums and whistles. The Isicathamiya and Umbholoho dances are danced to both drums and songs.

Hunting Dance

The Hunting Dance imitates the actions of hunting and the bravery it requires. This fiery dance is danced using sticks instead of spears to avoid injury and was danced before the hunt began. The girls also dance their own version but to welcome the men back from the hunt.

Clothing

Girls are bare-chested and wear wool skirts and ankle rattles during the Ingoma dances and reed dance. Boys and men typically only wear cowhides that cover their genitals and backsides during the Ingoma dance. Men wear full warrior attire, such as cowhides, head rings, ankle rattles, ceremonial belts and shields during the Indalamu dance.

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