Page 23 - Thietre Arts

Theatre Arts For Secondary Schools

traditional and contemporary.

Traditional dance
A traditional dance is a dance which has roots in people’s cultural traditions. It reflects
day to day social activities of the people in a society. Traditional dances of pre-colonial
African societies were an integral part of the education system, rituals and other life
circle events from birth to death. A traditional dance can be performed in almost all
social events such as births, deaths, weddings and rites of passages. Other occasions
in which traditional dances are performed are during harvest period, initiation rites,
and healing. The dancing styles of traditional dances vary between societies and
within the society depending on the nature of the dance performance. An example of
traditional dance is Ukala, a hunting dance of Wazigua from Tanga region.
The following is an excerpt from the lyrics of one of the Ukala hunting dance songs
(L- stands for leader and C- for chorus).

Song in Zigua language English translation of the song

L: Mdimi mdimi nakugambila L: Herdsman, herdsman I tell you
C: Ziya kudya kwe inyika oo C: There they are, at the wilderness
ee Ziya kudya kwe inyika aaa There they are, at the wilderness
L: Sidimile kwe isalaka L: I didn’t graze them nearby

Sidimila kwe inyika I grazed them at the wilderness
Kuno hadima While grazing

Kuno nasangula I am skinning
C: Ziya kudya kwe inyika oee C: There they are at the wilderness
Ziya Kudya kwe inyika aaa There they are at the wilderness
L: Naukala ee na ukala ndima L: Hunting, hunting is difficult
C: Naukala ee na ukala ndima C: Hunting, hunting is difficult
L: Akomile mwanikile na L: Roast the meat for the person
ukala ndima who has killed

C: Akomile mwanakile na C: Roast the meat for the person
ukala ndima who has killed
L: Mbili mbili chidye nyama L: Let us round up and rejoice
na ukala ndima while eating together
C: Mbili mbili chidye nyama C: Let us round up and rejoice
na ukala ndima. while eating together.

There are many other traditional dances depending on social events or occasions.
Figure 1.10 shows people performing a traditional dance.

15 Student’s Book Form One

18/10/2024 18:39
Theatre arts form 1.indd 15
Theatre arts form 1.indd 15 18/10/2024 18:39