l Ndege l Msewe l Kilua l Unyago l
'Ngoma'
literally translated means 'drum' and is a term used to encompass all
local traditional forms of dancing, drumming and singing. There are
literally hundreds of different ngoma styles throughout Tanzania,
variations often being so slight that untrained eyes and ears can hardly
notice the difference. A number of these originate from Zanzibar and Pemba
and all are spectacular to watch.
The often elaborate native costumes emphasize the unity of the dancers'
steps and the rhythm section which usually consists of several locally
hand
made drums and percussion
instruments (such as oil tins beaten with a stick)."Ngoma
ya kibati" for example, consists of a very rapid declamatory style of
singing which
is an improvised dialogue to drum accompaniment with singers/dancers
coming in for a chorus every so often. Another example is "msewe", named
after the material which is strapped to the ankles of the male dancers,
supporting the rhythm section. Each style has its own special costume: in
"kyaso", men dance dressed in shirts and kikois (special woven cloth from
the Kenyan coast) with a long, narrow stick in their hand, all movements
beautifully coordinated. In "ndege" women in colorful dresses all hold
bright umbrellas in their hands, moving forwards with slightly rotating
steps and movements of the hips.