16/12/2020
*NGONI DANCES*
The Ngoma Dance
The Ngoma dance is a male and female ceremonial dance. No weapons such as spears and shields are
used for the Ngoma. Knobkerries and flywhisks are used instead. The movement is that of vigorous
stamping of the feet for men and leisurely circumnavigation of the men by the women. No musical
instruments are used for this dance except for bells (manjerenjeza) which are tied to the to the ankles
of the men and which rattle at every stamping meant to wake up the spirits, and the loud hand
clapping of women which marks the rhythm and follows the stamping of the men’s feet. Formerly,
the Ngoma was danced when the warriors had returned from battle and came to celebrate their
victory at the king’s kraal. Today, since the Ngoni have been pacified, the Ngoma is still danced at
the funeral commemoration rites, at celebrations for the harvest and at any other ceremonies that
involve beer drinking. The songs tell of the Ngoni history, their migration and the prowess of their
Past. Other songs focus on the Ngoni values and virtues, while others stress the importance of beer
and cattle.
The Mthimba or Uyeni Dance
The Mthimba or the Uyeni Dance was a women’s dance, which was part of the marriage ceremony
proper. The young girls who accompanied the bride performed it. The girls who performed the Uyeni
wore beads across their bare chests. They put on their head a small beaded square to which was
attached strings of dangling beads forming a veil that covered the head, the face and the neck. The
maidens carried small ceremonial shields and reeds in their hands. They shook their shoulders as they
were shivering during their dance. The songs followed the sequence of events of the marriage
