The Religion of Dance
African Dancers, Britannica Image
Located beside the South-western region of Nigeria is the Republic of Benin, one of the birthplaces of the religion and spiritual practice of Voodoo. The official language is French along with the native dialect from various African ethnic groups with Yoruba being the largest. Voodoo is used as part of the religious ceremony that takes place annually in some of the ceremonies. “The Ugie festival recognized as one of the most ancient is celebrated with dance and music. These celebrations remind people of their past to compare and ascertain the progress of the communities” (Ukwandu, D. and Obeghare, B. I. The Ugie Festival Ceremonies as a Demonstration of Ancient Benin Culture in Nigeria). It is normal to sacrifice goats and chickens for the blood and pray to sacred objects as preparation. This practice is an aged old custom that is still carried on by the tradition of middle-aged women, adolescents, and men. The setting is very celebratory with the locals stand back as spectators of this spiritual ceremony.
In the Dance, Voodoo Dance (Benin) video there is a processional entrance of women singing, carrying containers of holy water on tops of their head which are used for the blessing of the day. Costuming is colorful in reds, oranges, yellows, and blues reflecting the traditional fashion of Africa. Men wear African loincloth while the women are draped differently in colorful skirts with fabric wrapped across their breast area. Hats and beaded shells are worn around their head. Neck drops of feathers, shells, and pearls. Copper rings are worn with colorful arm bracelets anklets.
The choreography in full energetic pelvis thrusts and contractions of the upper body that appear physically tiring. A sexual overtone is demonstrated by the hip motions. Movements of leg lifts and back arches are similar to steps taught in a traditional African dance class. Some of the patterns remind me of basic line step movements where the women shuffle with step touches. This movement can be used as a resting spot to catch your breath. The side touches pick up speed breaking through the dust of the soil into fast shuffles and outward kicks with upper shoulder rolls and flapping gestures that remind me of a bird. Much of the dance moves remind me of street moves. Do you think some of the dance moves of the hip-hop culture have copied steps from African movement?
The music is very rhythmic with sounds of hands and sticks beating against the skin of the djembe drums. Fast patterns and the eight count carries the up-tempo while bodies accelerate to the timing of the cow or Alo bell sounding off between the rhythm. Chanting sounds throughout calling out the rituals form the earth sound of life. The music is very rhythmic with sounds of hands and sticks beating against the skin of the djembe drums. Fast patterns and the eight count carries the up-tempo while bodies accelerate to the timing of the cow or Alo bell sounding off between the rhythm. Chanting sounds throughout calling out the rituals form the earth sound of life.
Video: http://library.esc.edu/login?url=http://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=16071&xtid=3092
Babatunde, S. O. “Multilingualism Across Boarders: Nigeria-Republic of Benin as Case Study.” European Scientific Journal. Special/edition: ISSN: 1857 – 7881. (Print) e-ISSN 1857 – 7431. August 2014. https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/viewFile/4057/3896
Films on Demand. Dance, Voodoo, Dance (Benin). [Electronic Resource (Video)]. New York, N.Y.: Films Media Group, [2012], c1992.; 1992.; (cited 2018 Sep 30). Video. http://fod.infobase.com.library.esc.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=3092
Ukwandu, D. and Obeghare, B. I. “The Ugie Festival Ceremonies as a Demonstration of Ancient Benin Culture in Nigeria.” Archiv Orientaini, Vol. 84, no. 2. May 2016, p. 249 EBSCOhost, library.esc. https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.library.esc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=21&sid=fb65a3d8-fcdb-4bf8-8645-a42ee4a877a2%40sessionmgr4010&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=119630007&db=edo
