Bukusu Dance Class 1 of 3 (Types of Bukusu Dances)

 

Welcome to the season of Khuminya and dancing. What kind of dance moves can you show?

 

1.     Kamabeka- The traditional signature dance involving shaking of shoulders. Within the Kamabeka dance, there are three kinds of dance;

• a)    Kumukongo- One shakes kamabeka but emphasizes the shaking of the back
• b)    Bitenga- The dancer stays still but shakes their shoulders vigorously
• c)    Kumuchenje- dancers line opposite each other (or circularly) and dance vigorously and synchronously while leaning inwards towards one another. Kumuchenje is often on higher speed and involve shaking the head. Kumuchenje is famous in the khuminya season.
  

2.      Bukhwana- It is performed when a mother gives birth to twins. It is a celebratory dance that shows pride and also keeps you away from being ‘burnt’ by the mystic bukhwana (twinship) powers. It is kind of perverted dance, performed out of reach of children. Dancers often emphasizes the shaking of the waist and lower parts of the body. The dance is often flavored by a special power beat of Eng’oma ye Bukhwana (or endongoli- the armpit drum) or even the Bakisu flute (Lutaya).

 

3.      Singorio- dance involving jumping up with glare and wide strides accompanied by rhythmic songs. It is possible this dance was borrowed from Kalenjin tribes (common in Bakwabi and Bakinisu – Masai & Nandi). It was famed by Basawa and Bakolongolo (those circumcised between late 1880s and early 1900s).

 

 4.      Other contemporary dance moves include; “Matengeya” invented in 1960s (twisting movements of hips, belly and feet); Rhumba & Ndombolo (from 1980s); Lipala (slow movements with hands alternating between the forehead & the back) among others.

What other dance styles do you know?