African Cultural Dance Essay

Role of Culture and Community in African Dance

Africa is the world’s second largest continent and the most populous. There are 54 individual countries in Africa, which are located in either the western, eastern, southern, central or northern regions of the continent. Countries in Africa are well known for their different tradition and cultural practices that have been preserved for a very long time. Culture and tradition are important in African communities since members of different communities in Africa express themselves through their culture and traditions. One of the ways they express themselves is through their cultural dances.

Most African countries view dance as the best way to express themselves and, therefore, include movements that have true meaning in their dance routine. Among the movements included in African cultural dances are gestures, masks, costumes, body painting, and props (Wayne, 2010). By including these movements in their dance routines, dancers are able to communicate their messages to the audiences. Culture and community play a role in African dance are in Africa, “ dance is

In the jumping dance, “young man will jump as high as he can while the others stand in a circle and sing. The voices of the men get higher as the jumping increases. In the Masai language, this dancing competition is called the "adumu" (Kenya-advisor.com). Among the Masai tribe, the “adumu” is historically performed during the “Eunoto”, which is a ten-day ceremony of singing, feasting, dancing, feasting and ritual. This ceremony celebrates the rite of passage where the Masai boys are initiated to be true Masai warriors. In addition to the unique dance, the Masai have a unique look which includes, “long hair painted rusty with a mix of ochre and fat, red robes, and large, stiff, beaded collars”( Spavento, 2013). Their unique look works in their favor as it emphasizes the height and hangtime for their