African dancing has both historical and social traditions that reflect more significance than those of many other cultures. The dances help celebrate not only special events and festivals, similar to other cultures, but often tell the stories of the nation’s history. Unwritten oral history, passed through generation before writing became part of the culture, often included African dance as part of the process.
These dances were not only celebratory they were also instructive and were used to teach the younger generation about morals and values. They were also used to praise and pray to the gods and give thanks for a bountiful harvest or a successful hunt.
Many tribes trained singers to provide the music for the African dance. They produced intricate harmonies and set the rhythmic pace for the dance. While most of the music came from vocals, often drums accompanied the singers to provide heavy rhythms for the dancers. The bougaragou, on of the drums used, is by far the most popular, although there are dozens of others.
The drum is often seen as a sign of vitality and life and is considered the heartbeat of the tribe or village. Oftentimes the beating of a single drum will serve the same purpose as a bugle call in the military – it lets the community know that it is time to get up and gather together. The drum is also a symbol of solidarity in African music and Dance and lets people know that they are all different but connected. They are all cut from the same cloth.
European and Latin dancing often are about partners and highlight the abilities of the two. It involves the relationship of the dancers and shows with the passion of their embrace and the hand holding postures. African dancing, however, often separates not only the sexes but also the various ages. It is more about community and telling the story of different life stages.
Singers for the dance provided the background music. The trained voices produced intricate harmonies and melodies and often provided the rhythmic pace for the dance. Some tribes used more than just the vocals for the rhythm; they used drums also. Of all the many different drums the tribes used in their dance ceremonies, the bougaragou was the most popular and frequently used.
The following is a list of some of the most popular traditional African dances:
Warrior Dance: As you might expect, this dance was performed before the men of the tribe went off to battle. It is a violent dance that consists of stabbing motions and other battlefield tactics.
Weddings and anniversaries often brought the dance of love to the celebrations. Unlike western thoughts, there were no couples but women primarily danced this celebratory dance. It showed the tribe’s acknowledgement of the love that existed between the couple.
Winning wars was important to the various African nations and to help them build courage and become dominant on the battlefield, they participated in warrior dance before the battle ensued. The dance started slowly but as it progressed, it became wild and violent. It displayed the gruesome actions on the battlefield.
Other African dances besides these mentioned hold a hold a high place in the tribal traditions. The dances display important cultural morays and play a big role in understanding the culture and history of the tribes.
You can learn more about African dance by watching the African Side movie to see some great African dancing. Visit the African Side website today to obtain your copy.
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