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Umxhentso

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Umxhentso is the dance of Amagqirha, Xhosa traditional women healers.
Traditional dance of the Xhosa people

Umxhentso is the traditional dancing of Xhosa people performed mostly by Amagqirha, the traditional healers/Sangoma. Ukuxhentsa-Dancing has always been a source of pride to the Xhosas as they use this type of dancing in their ceremonies.

This dancing includes overt shoulder movements that include shaking the thoracic (this is called ukutyityimba) and the rest of the upper body, stomping barefoot. Umxhentso is usually accompanied by a drum beat or slow vocal music called ukombela with clapping to give the dancers a rhythm to follow.

Characteristics

Xhosa people wear beaded clothes when they perform umxhentso. The name of these traditional garments is umbhaco, while their cousins, the Zulus, wear animal hide (men) and colourful clothing and beads (women). They usually paint themselves prior to performing. Umxhentso is mostly performed in the Transkei homeland in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where the tradition is still valued.

Musical accompaniment includes :


Categories

The different types of Umxhentso are:

Umngqungqo

An ancient dance performed by old women. It is performed in ritual ceremonies. It requires little movement and is considered to be highly dignified. It is slow and accompanied by low-pitched music and clapping. The umgqungqo is performed on wedding ceremonies, when a young girl is matured normally after puberty or in her teens Xhosa people used to have arranged marriages called 'ukuthwalwa' then on wedding ceremony called 'umendiso' theme songs are sung.

Umdudo

This is a dance that is performed in weddings. The word Umdudo is derived from the verb ukudada which means to swim. The choreography of this dance includes spinning up and down. This type of dancing is often accompanied by ‘umbholorho’, songs performed at weddings (Umtshato ).

Intlombe

Intlombe is performed by traditional healers/Amagqira during their initiation ceremonies. The term Ukuxhentsa (verb) represents a dance performed by young girls during festivals and traditional ceremonies.

Umguyo

This is a rite passage celebration by boys who are going to initiation school for transition from boyhood to manhood through *Ulwaluko.

See also

References

  1. Bührmann, M. V. (3 November 1981). "The Xhosa Healers of Southern Africa: 1. Intlombe and Xhentsa: a Xhosa healing ritual". Intlombe and Xhentsa: A Xhosa Healing Ritual. J. Anal. Psychol. 26 (3): 187–201. doi:10.1111/j.1465-5922.1981.00187.x. PMID 7275804. Retrieved 3 November 2018 – via PEP Web.
  2. Sylvia, Sotewu, Siziwe (1 February 2016). "A visual narrative reflecting on upbringing of Xhosa girls with special references to 'intonjane". Uir.unisa.ac.za. Retrieved 3 November 2018.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Facts About The Xhosa People And Their Culture". Buzzsouthafrica.com. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. "Xhosa". Sahistory.org.za. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2018.

External links

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