(Photographs supplied)
The Playhouse Company, an Agency of the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, is pleased to announce that its 10th annual Ingoma Competition will take place on March 18 2023.
The event has charted an increasingly successful course since it was launched more than a decade ago. Now, following a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, the hugely popular event makes a triumphant return to eThekwini’s Curries Fountain in Berea, the outdoors venue where it is traditionally held.
This year’s 10th anniversary landmark will showcase 42 Zulu dance groups, who will pit their skills against each other in their bids to take home the coveted prizes in each category. Groups will be judged on their performances in the following seven dance style categories: Isigekle; uShameni; Ingoma Yezinsizwa; Ingoma Yezintombi; Ingoma Sikhuze; Indlamu; and Umzansi.
The seven different styles of traditional dance, in more detail, are as follows:
OMAMA BESIGEKLE
This style was created for women, ideally
married women, as an alternative to Amahubo, a dance strictly for men chanting
to ancestors. Performed at weddings, Isigekle is accompanied by singing,
clapping and drumming, and dancers avoid raising their feet too high to show
respect. Dancers wear headgear (“isicholo”) and traditional skirts
(“isidwaba”). They carry small shields and knobkerries, and each group has a
specific theme and costume colour scheme.
INGOMA YEZINSIZWA
Accompanied by singing, clapping and
drumbeats, this highly exciting dance form features bare feet and traditional
costumes, including a form of animal-skin apron. The dance is commonly
performed during young men’s rite of passage formalities, as well as at
weddings and other traditional ceremonies. It is most distinctive for the
dancer having to keep a leg straight while kicking it up to reach the side of
the ears. Dancers carry shields and decorated sticks.
INDLAMU
Performed with small shields and sticks,
this is a beguiling, striking war dance that was introduced by Shaka Zulu to
psyche up his Ambato (warriors) while they were being prepared for battle.
Resembling a military drill with strict precision, the dance style has dancers
following a specific pattern, accompanied by drums and minimal singing. A lot
of showing off is highlighted, accompanied by much loud whistling, to lend
encouragement to whoever is dancing at the time.
UMZANSI
The history specific to uMzansi dancing, as
recounted by Clegg, “is that it originated around Bergville, Ndwedwe, Maphumulo
and the Umvoti area of KwaZulu-Natal, it was taken up by the migrant workers
around eThekwini and became very popular at the organized dance competitions
that were held around the end of each year.
USHAMENI
Named after the Shameni River in Umsinga,
KwaZulu-Natal, this style was formed at a time when railways were being built.
It is a variation of Ingoma yezinsizwa, mixed with Indlamu, but with a regional
flair. Dancers bend one leg during the dance to show the ankle, and they follow
specific line formations, stretching their hands up high, while accompanied by
singers who also clap. The dancers wear pants and vests or T-shirts, as well as
traditional sandals (“udabuluzwane”).
INGOMA YEZINTOMBI
This colourful dance is specific to
maidens. It is linked to different rite-of-passage ceremonies for young girls –
such as when they reach puberty, undergo virginity tests or to celebrate lobola
and weddings. The dance is accompanied by drumming, clapping and singing, and
the music is highly energetic. The dancers’ costumes are traditional skirts
made from colourful beads. A requirement of the dance is that legs have to be
raised high.
INGOMA SIKHUZE
This dance, another variation of Ingoma
yezinsizwa, originated in the Umbumbulu region, becoming popular after the
arrival of the missionaries. A pattern formation, known as “isifuba”, performed
by more experienced dancers, is at the centre of this dance style. It is
supported by “isipani”, referring to dancers that shadow whatever is done by
“isifuba: The typical costume consists of thigh-length socks with stripes and
short skirts (sometimes rugby shorts). The leg is not raised very high in this
dance, for which dancers carry shields and traditional sticks which are also
used to create formations. Accompaniment is via song and handclapping
(“ukukhwahla”).
The Indlamu Competition is proudly
presented in accordance with The Playhouse Company’s mandate to produce
diversely equitable live productions in the fields of music, drama, and dance,
throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
The competition starts promptly at 09h00.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
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