The Elephant Dance
The USuzwe Elephant Dance is comparable to the Reed Dances of Swaziland and Zululand. The Zulu dance was revived by King Goodwill Zwelethinki kaBhekuzulu in 1984, after being banned for 113 years by the colonial authorities. Swazi girls have been dancing since their nation was created when they broke away from the Zulus.
The Swazi Reed Dance, the Umhlanga (photos here), is held every year in late August or early September. The ceremony lasts for three days, beginning with the girls picking reeds by the river. The following day, dressed in traditional costume, these are taken to the Royal village, to the Queen Mother's house, where they are used to repair the wind breaks. The actual dance is on the third day, when the King is present. The King is permitted, but does not have to choose a bride. The present King, Mswati III, currently has 13 wives chosen from Reed Dancers.
The Swazi Reed Dance, the Umhlanga (photos here), is held every year in late August or early September. The ceremony lasts for three days, beginning with the girls picking reeds by the river. The following day, dressed in traditional costume, these are taken to the Royal village, to the Queen Mother's house, where they are used to repair the wind breaks. The actual dance is on the third day, when the King is present. The King is permitted, but does not have to choose a bride. The present King, Mswati III, currently has 13 wives chosen from Reed Dancers.
Swazi girls dancing the annual Reed Dance
CONTROVERSY
Aspects of both Reed Dances have been the subject of controversy. In the case of the Zulu dance, the requirement that the girls undergo a virginity test has been the subject of widespread debate, while the actions of King Mswati III in choosing very young brides in a country whose government has been campaigning for girls to abstain from early sex, has brought criticism: his eighth wife was a teenage schoolgirl
Both dances have been troubled by the presence of foreigners drawn to the display of semi-naked young women. The Swazis have attempted to ban the use of cameras during the ceremony. Other criticisms include that the dance exacerbates the AIDS problem and that it causes an image problem. Further, there is anger in Swaziland at what they see as foreign ridicule of what is an ancient, traditional ceremony which has many purposes within their society. Women's groups have been particularly scathing.
Aspects of both Reed Dances have been the subject of controversy. In the case of the Zulu dance, the requirement that the girls undergo a virginity test has been the subject of widespread debate, while the actions of King Mswati III in choosing very young brides in a country whose government has been campaigning for girls to abstain from early sex, has brought criticism: his eighth wife was a teenage schoolgirl
Both dances have been troubled by the presence of foreigners drawn to the display of semi-naked young women. The Swazis have attempted to ban the use of cameras during the ceremony. Other criticisms include that the dance exacerbates the AIDS problem and that it causes an image problem. Further, there is anger in Swaziland at what they see as foreign ridicule of what is an ancient, traditional ceremony which has many purposes within their society. Women's groups have been particularly scathing.
Austronesian Seafarers
One of the greatest of Man's ocean migrations was that which brought people of Malayan/Polynesian origins to the east coast of Africa and, in particular, to the island of Madagascar. They travelled by outrigger canoes, arriving some time between 200 and 500AD, probably at about the same time as the Bantu arrived from the continent. Evidence of Austronesian settlement has largely been lost from the east African coast, but the Madagascan language, Malagasy, is Austronesian, and the population of Madagascar includes some peoples who are predominantly Austronesian.
You can follow this in a brief article on the Austronesian migration, or look at an overview of the beautiful island of Madagascar.
One of the greatest of Man's ocean migrations was that which brought people of Malayan/Polynesian origins to the east coast of Africa and, in particular, to the island of Madagascar. They travelled by outrigger canoes, arriving some time between 200 and 500AD, probably at about the same time as the Bantu arrived from the continent. Evidence of Austronesian settlement has largely been lost from the east African coast, but the Madagascan language, Malagasy, is Austronesian, and the population of Madagascar includes some peoples who are predominantly Austronesian.
You can follow this in a brief article on the Austronesian migration, or look at an overview of the beautiful island of Madagascar.
COWRIES
Cowries are sea-snails with beautifully patterned shells.
Some of the dance girls wore cowries stitched to their ankle straps so they rattled as they danced. But the cowrie has a much greater singificance. It was used by the Chinese for thousands of years as a form of currency, and this came across to Africa via India and the Maldives. In fact, the east African coastline became an important source of the tiny money cowries. So the girls wore them as a sign of wealth.
Cowries are sea-snails with beautifully patterned shells.
Some of the dance girls wore cowries stitched to their ankle straps so they rattled as they danced. But the cowrie has a much greater singificance. It was used by the Chinese for thousands of years as a form of currency, and this came across to Africa via India and the Maldives. In fact, the east African coastline became an important source of the tiny money cowries. So the girls wore them as a sign of wealth.
COLOBUS MONKEYS
The black-and-white colobus monkey is found across tropical Africa from Kenya to Senegal. It spends most of its life in trees, moving in small groups of up to ten animals.
Killed by man for their skins which are used in dance ceremonies and as cloaks, they are also a favourite food of chimpanzees.
It was only recently that chimps were observed hunting. That they are able to catch this nimble treetops inhabitant is a testament to their skills of group organisation and co-ordination.
After the colobus is killed it is eaten.
The black-and-white colobus monkey is found across tropical Africa from Kenya to Senegal. It spends most of its life in trees, moving in small groups of up to ten animals.
Killed by man for their skins which are used in dance ceremonies and as cloaks, they are also a favourite food of chimpanzees.
It was only recently that chimps were observed hunting. That they are able to catch this nimble treetops inhabitant is a testament to their skills of group organisation and co-ordination.
After the colobus is killed it is eaten.
A Knobkerrie
PHOTOS courtesy of - Swazi girls: ilan molcho (Wikimedia Commons); Swazi Girls with Reeds: Swaziland Tourist Authority; Colobus Monkeys: Colobus Monkeys: WhiteMzungu; Knobkerrie: Rand Tribal;