Dununba - The Strong Man Dance!

Dununba is the name of a family of traditional rhythms from Malinke. It is said there are more than twenty different variations in this family.
They all have in common the meaning of the dance, which was originally only danced by the men. With this dance, the men settled a tough, and sometimes even violent and bloody, fight to determine the superiority between different age groups in the village.

The Malinke (also known as Mandinko) are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are the descendants of the Mali Empire. They live in The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Niger, Mauritania and even small communities in the central African nation of Chad.

Dununba, the "Dance of the Strong Men" is a very old dance, performed, as its name suggests, only by men. However, exceptions to that rule have been come more common as time goes by.

The "Dance of the Strong Men" as danced by the Malinke of Hamanah occupies a position that makes it more of a social ritual than an amusement, although this aspect is also not ignored. It takes place in the Bara, the space for dancing that every village possesses and which has a large tree, either a Kapok or Mangrove, planted in the center. The circles of men or boys are formed around the tree, each circle representing a social or age group (kare). The Baranti, the masters of the Bara form the group that assumes responsibility for the smooth running of the festivities. They are the first to dance, and no-one else can use the Bara without their agreement. Although the Dunumba is reserved for men as its name indicates, women could take part by dancing at one side or by coming to the centre to enliven the atmosphere.

In modern times, Dununba is often done as a community and has the atmosphere of a public party.

Here's an example of modern Dununba Community drum and dance party:





And this is a more traditional version (this video's ability to be embedded is disabled, so you will have to go to YouTube to view it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x9nEAM02Fs


More information can be found here: DUNUMBA, DUNUNBA, DOUNUMBA

Ceremonies Involving Drum & Dance

As mentioned previously, dance and drumming play a very important role in West African culture. Here are some videos illustrated some of these occasions...

Baby Naming Ceremonies

Parties

Spiritual Events: Ceremonies to Please the Ancestors & Spirits

....more to come.....

The History of West African Dance

West African dance is an essential component of West African culture. Over time, traditional dances incorporated new moves, rhythms and ideas. Through the slave trade, and through national production of traditional dance forms, West African dance has found it's way around the globe. West African Dance has influenced many popular American dance forms, such as hip-hop, salsa and jazz dance. Traditional dances are still practiced by many people today.

Traditional West African Dance


Dance has always played a very important role in the lives of West Africans. Throughout history, West Africans performed dances to celebrate a birth, harvest or death. Communities relied on dance to ward off evil spirits, to ask the gods for prosperity, or to resolve conflict. Dance continues to serve those functions. For example, villagers perform the Malinke rhythm Kassa during farming and harvesting work. The singing, dancing and clapping entertains and motivates the hard-working farmers.

Characteristics of West African Dance

African dance, according to R.F. Thomson, has four unique qualities. First, the body moves in a multi-unit fashion, where the head and arms may move to one rhythmic pattern while the feet follow a different time signature. Second, it is percussive; the dancer interprets the rhythmic nature of the music through movement. Third, though as a whole African dance is a community event, some dancers follow different parts of the rhythm, dancing "apart" from the crowd. Finally, West African dance phrases, or sets of movements, overlap, creating a "call-and-response" pattern.

Drum in West African Dance

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  Drums, played with hands and sticks, are a vital component of West African dance. The drum is the "language" that the dancer interprets. The drum patterns signify a dancer when to start or stop a certain move, and what moves to use. The dancer also challenges and directs the drummer through his or her moves. The drummer translates the dancers moves into rhythms. The drummer and dancer are interconnected.

History of African Dance in North America

West African dance reached the Americas during the slave trade. Slaves were often prohibited from dancing, but African-based movements found their way into European dance styles, quickly evolving into popular American dances. The influence of African dance can be seen in early American dances, such as the Ring Shout and the Cakewalk, and later dances such as the Jitterbug, and the Charleston. The influence is still visible in more contemporary styles of dance including hip-hop and jazz.

West African Dance Today

• West Africa dance traditions are still very important to West Africans. Many West African nations promote their rich dance history through national dance companies. Certain traditional dances are still performed, while many other rhythms and dances are created or developed for certain modern contexts. West African dance is enjoyed worldwide for its expressive movements and aerobic benefits in classes and performances.

References

• A Life for the Djembe; Keita, Mamady; 1999.
• Aesthetic of the Cool; R.F. Thompson; 1973.