
The Ugandan community generally use music and dances to celebrate the life cycle in rites and rituals; to worship, praise and petition, to celebrate work and as a form of community recreation. Thus dance was and is in many communities outside the hub of towns, a part of the day to day life sharing and disseminating cultural values to different cultures in Africa. today we look at interesting cultures in Africa and People of Uganda and their cultures in Africa.
Cultures in Africa
Dance is value ridden and communities emphasizes different aspects of life like the courtship with dances such as Lamakwong (larakaraka among other Acholi, Naleyo among the Karamajong, Irongo (Twin dance) in Busoga and many others.
People of Uganda and their cultures
The dances of the people of Uganda and their cultures emphasize complex foot work and head movement, with very little or limited waist movement. People of Uganda and their cultures dances have withstood the test of time, staying very much the same as they have been for hundreds of years. In the proceeding article we look at People of Uganda and their cultural dances that make the pearl of Africa also the heartbeat of Africa.
Acholi Dances – cultures in Africa
Acholi dance commonly known as Bwola Dance is arguably the finest dance in Uganda. it is a dance performed before the chief (Rwoth) to honor him or his guests. Its dance at the installation of the new chief and at his death. The dance derives its name from the small drums the men play as they dance. It a symbol of respectabilities and pride to have a Bwola drum in one house.
cultures in Africa
Traditionally, Bwola was performed by adults, both men and women between the age of 20 to 60 because these were able to show dignity and respect to their chief. Today it’s a social dance that used mainly to entertain; showcasing Acholi culture at festival and cultural galas. It’s now even danced by young people at primary school level.
Bwola dance Costumes
Male; head gear made out of ostrich feathers adorns the male heads. Arm band augment the arm movement in the dance and drumming of the small Bwola drum. Dancing skin from animal’s calves and or gazelle are worn around midrib. Today the skins are worn over neat pair of shorts. dancers may loop of beads across upper body. Ankle bells are worn to augment the footwork of the dancers.
Female; the female dancers wear head band of beads, neckless, colorful beads around the waist, a Bikinilike top skirt sin with a triangular table cloth decorating the front, ankle bells and at time, bracelets.
cultures in Africa – Lamakwong (Larakaraka Dance
This dance is popularly known as Larakaraka, a name derived from the sound of the calabash as they are rhythmically brushed with metal spokes to accompany the dance. It’s a courtship dance and is performed by young adult’s boys and girls to choose partners.
Larakaraka Dance; the dance formation is based on circles; women make the inner circle and the men make the outer circle. The women have a choice to dance with any men within the circle. If a man is pleased with the dancing of any particular girl, he leaves his place in the ring and holds her right hand, which he lifts above his head.
Larakaraka Dance Costume
The costume is very similar to that worn for Bwola dance, with the following exception: men wear a single feather worn on a loop around the head, yet centered at the back of the head the women dance bare midriff with body decorations and short smart skirts that make them attractive to the men.