Zulu Dance | Eshowe
Traditional Zulu dancing is an important part of the Zulu culture.
Dancing is usually performed during a traditional Zulu ceremony, and is
accompanied by vibrant singing and sometimes the beating of drums. Zulu
dancing is something quite spectacular, especially when the men and
women are fully dressed in their traditional attire.
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Shembe Dancers
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Zulu Women Dancing
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Sangomas Dancing
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. Married women utter a quavering shrill (
ukukikiza). When the young women (
izintombi) dance, the young men clap and play the drum and vice versa.
Zulu Dances
Ingoma (isizingili)
This is a dance performed by boys and girls without drums and
accompanied by a chant. The girls wear woolen skirts and are usually
bare-chested. They also wear rattles made of seedpods around the ankles
to accent the high kicks.
The
Ingoma is one of the purest remnants of Zulu tradition.
Boys and girls perform the dance for transition ceremonies such as
coming of age, weddings. In the past it was performed before a hunt as
well as before battle. For the youth it instils the tradition of sharing
experiences and building solidarity through communal dance.
Ingoma (isishameni)
A harmonising performance with boys and girls together but dancing
separately. The boys clap while the girls dance and vice-versa.
Indlamu
This traditional dance is most often associated with Zulu culture. It
is performed with drums and full traditional attire and is derived from
the war dances of the warriors.
This war dance is untouched by Western influence probably because it
is regarded as a touchstone of Zulu identity. Full regimental attire,
precise timing and uncompromised posture are required. It is danced by
men of any age wearing skin (
amabeshu), headrings, ceremonial
belts, ankle rattles, sheilds and weapons like knobkeries and spears.
While indlamu uses similar steps as girls do for ingoma, it has a much
more calculated, less frantic feel, showing off muscular strength and
control of the weapons with mock stabs at imaginary enemies. Dancers are
more likely to make eye contact with the audience. Various drums and
whistles accompany the dance.
Both indlamu and ingoma are performed at weddings; women perform the Ingoma and men perform the Indlamu.
Imvunulo
This dance is only performed by one participant and is a parade to show off the traditional attire of the Zulu men and women.
Imvunulo is the traditional attire in this dance, representing one’s role and position in society.
Dress is determined by age, rank and gender. Young ones do not cover
their thighs, but adults should. Men wear amabeshu and women wear
leather skirts and beaded aprons. A leather skirt worn by a women is
connected with being pregnant or desiring to be pregnant. Over that she
wears beaded aprons, presented on her wedding day by her father. Colours
in the aprons can signify where the dancer comes from. Girls’ beadwork
girdles are called ‘isigege’ and should not contain red beads as these
are reserved for married women.
Isicathamiya
This is performed by men or boys standing in a straight line or arc.
The music is balladic and the lyrics pertain to modern issues but use
ancient melodies. Issues like aids, crime and migrant labour. The lead
singer provides the counterpoint or rhythm. The music form symbolises
life in rural Zululand and the townships. This dance has become
internationally known.
There are special wedding songs and dances called ‘
umBholoho’
and form a structured ritual to channel mutual antagonism between
families of the bride and groom. Families take turns to outdo each other
in beautiful dancing and song.
