Examples Of Traditional (Kenyan) Kamba Dances & Traditional (Paraguayan) Kamba Cuá Dances

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about Kenya's Kamba (Akamba) ethnic group and information about the Kamba Cuá Cua population of Paraguay, South America.

Videos in this post highlight some traditional (Kenyan) Kamba dances and dances performed by Paraguay's Kamba Cuá dance tropes.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT KENYA'S KAMBA ETHNIC GROUP
From http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kamba-tribe.html
"The Kamba tribe, also called the Akamba, is a Bantu ethnic group residing in the semi - arid Eastern Province of Kenya. Their homeland stretches east from Nairobi towards the Tsavo and Northeast to Embu...,

As the fifth largest tribe, Kambas make up about 11 percent of Kenya's total population. They speak the Kamba (or Kikamba) language...

The Kamba tribe is renowned for their exceptional woodcarving and basketry skills....

Kamba religion, faith and beliefs
Many Kamba people are Christians; however, some still practice the old traditional beliefs. The Akamba people believe in a monotheistic, invisible and transcendental god, Ngai or Mulungu, who lives in the sky (yayayani). This god is also referred to as Asa or the Father. He is perceived as the omnipotent creator of life on earth and as a merciful, if distant, entity.

Kamba music
The Akamba people's love of music and dance is evident in their impressive performances throughout their daily lives and during special occasions. In these dances, the Akamba display agility and athletic skill as they perform acrobatics and remarkable body movements. Dances are usually accompanied by songs composed for the occasion (marriage, birth, national holiday) and reflect the traditional structure of the Kikamba song, sung on a pentatonic scale. The singing is lively and melodic. Songs are composed satirizing deviant behavior, anti-social activity or love. The Akamba also have famous work songs, such as Ngulu Mwalala, sung while they are digging. Herdsmen and boys have different songs, as do the young and old."...
-snip-
The most comprehensive internet text and photographic source that I've found about Kenya's Kamba people is http://kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com/2014/06/kamba-people-intelligent-brave-skillful.html

WARNING: All "Trip Down Memory Lane" pages that I've come across unfortunately have been spammed with explicit sexual text.

Here's a brief excerpt about the Kamba people from that blog:
Monday, June 9, 2014
"KAMBA PEOPLE: INTELLIGENT, BRAVE, SKILLFUL CRAFT MEN, DRUMMING AND DANCING PEOPLE OF KENYA WHO ALSO FOUNDED AFRICAN TOWNS IN PARAGUAY
The Kamba (Akamba in the plural) or Wakamba are agriculturalist, music and dance-loving as well as Kikamba-speaking people of Bantu extraction living in the semi-arid Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya. The Akamba refer to their land as Ukambani; which is currently constituted by Makueni County, Kitui County and Machakos County. The Maasai call the Akamba - Lungnu and the coastal people call the Akamba – Waumanguo due to their scanty dress.

The Akamba were originally Long distance traders s, but later adopted agriculture due to the arability of the new land that they came to occupy...

Over time, the Akamba extended their commercial activity and wielded economic control across the central part of the land that was later to be known as Kenya (from the Kikamba, 'Kiinyaa', meaning 'the Ostrich Country'), from the Indian Ocean in the east to Lake Victoria in the west, and all the way up to Lake Turkana on the northern frontier. The Akamba traded in locally-produced goods such as cane beer, ivory, brass amulets, tools and weapons, millet, and cattle. The food obtained from trading helped offset shortages caused by droughts and famines."...
-snip-
Welcome's House, a commenter in the discussion thread for the Kamba Cua given as Video #1 below, indicates that the Bakamba people who are found in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Congo Brazzaville are the same ethnic group as the Wakamba (Akamba) people of Kenya. Is this true?

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INFORMATION ABOUT PARAGUAY'S KAMBA CUA PEOPLE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Paraguayan
"Afro-Paraguayan are Paraguayans of African descent. They can be found in Camba Cua outside Asuncion; Kamba Kokue outside of Paraguari, and the city of Emboscada. Currently, the Afro-Paraguayan population accounts for 2% of the total population.

History
The first African slaves arrived at Paraguay in 1556.[1] The majority of the slaves were of Nigerian and Angolan origin, like other black people from any South American country. Thus, according to Argentine historian José Ignacio Telesca, the slaves that entered legally came from the esclavistas ports of Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Córdoba, while those that entered illegally came from Brazil. Thus, the Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza - who reached the Rio de Plata in the 16th century and was appointed its viceroy - brought enslaved Africans to Paraguay to settle them in that place. According to the aforementioned Telesca, more than 4% of the population were slaves in colonial times, keeping the same percentage in the 19th century after independence.[2] However, according to the Kamba Cuá "Afro Paraguayan Association", in 1782, the black population represented 11.2 percent of the total population of the then Province of Paraguay.[1]

This population continued to increase, as already in 1811, according to Telesca, half of the Paraguayan population was of African descent,[3] whether slave or free. So, several towns like Aregua, Emboscada (in English: "Ambush"), and Guarambare were established as black communities.[4]

Also, with the arrival of Artigas' also arrived, curiously, people of Kamba ethnic, a Kenyan ethnic group, from Uruguay, who settled in Paraguay in the 1820s.[5] They arrived in a regiment of 250 spearmen, men and women, who accompanied General Jose Gervasio Artigas, the revolutionary leader of the now Uruguay, in his exile in Paraguay.[1] The Kamba Cua were dispossessed of their land by General Higinio Morinigo in the 1940s. Of his 100 hectares they stayed with 3 hectares.[6]

As already mentioned, there are three communities of Afro-Paraguayan: the Kamba Cuá, in the Central Department (outside Asuncion), Kamba Kokue, meaning "chacra de negros" (farm of blacks) in Guarani language, and is situated in the Paraguarí Department, and Emboscada, in the Cordillera Department. The three communities are in the eastern region. The origins of these settlements dates back to the Spanish colonial period.

Kamba Cuá is the place having the most important Afro Paraguayan community. This place, in the Central Department, is populated by so-called Artigas Cue -or "black of Kamba Cuá"-, which are descended from the Kamba people (a Kenyan ethnic group[5]). They arrived in Paraguay as members of a regiment of 250 spearmen, men and women, who accompanied General Jose Gervasio Artigas, the independence´s leading revolutionary of the Eastern Band (the current Uruguay) in his exile in Paraguay in 1820. After having arrived in Asunción, they settled in the Campamento Loma area, practising dairy and secondary agriculture. However, in the 1940s, they were dispossessed of their land by General Higinio Morinigo. Of his 100 hectares they stayed with 3 hectares.[6] However, the community survived, kept his chapel and dances, created a football club ("Jan Six-ro") and one school of drum and dance for children. His ballet is the only Afro-Paraguayan expression, and premiered at the Folk Festival peach "Uruguay Yi sings in" 1992, where it won the "Golden charrúa"....

Today, according official estimates, about 300 families (between 1,200 and 2,500 people) live in Kumba Cuá.[4] However, according censuses of the Afro Paraguayan Association Kamba Cuá, this community consists of only 422 people.[7] Religion is an integral part of daily life. Currently they are Catholic. His saint is San Benito of Palermo and King San Baltazar, who came from Uruguay. Their main festival is celebrated on 6 January each year at the community's social club named after the patron saint. The important ballet artistic expressions of the Kamba Kua and culinary arts of this community have been maintained for nearly 180 years. Their oral tradition recalls that many of them participated and died in the defensive war against the Triple Alliance (1865–69), which destroyed Paraguay. They keep memories of their history, passed down from generation to generation, hold dances like "candombe", dedicated to San Baltasar, and drumming.[4] So, this community is the best known of African descent in Paraguay for having preserved their identity and culture, promoted through its traditional festivals.[6]...

Notable Afro-Paraguayans
Lázaro Medina, Director of the Ballet Camba Cua

José Carlos Medina, General Secretary of the Kamba Kuá (“black people’s hollow,” or “cave,” in Guaraní) Afro-Paraguayan Association."...

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VIDEOS OF KENYAN KAMBA DANCES
Example #1: The dancers in Kitui



MrMuasa Uploaded on Dec 9, 2010

This is traditional Kamba dancers from Kitui in Kenya. The show took place 22 nd of October 2010 at Park Side Villa in Kitui and the 23 rd of october 2010 at Katulani secondary School.

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Example #2: Kilumi Dance



Tim Gregory Uploaded on Jan 6, 2011

Kithio Kya Wakaela performing the sacred Kilumi dance of the Kamba, as well as the Mboti dance (the climax of Kilumi). Recorded in Wamunyu, Kenya Nov. 26, 2010.

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Example #3: Kamba cultural dance day



Henri RECH Published on Nov 10, 2012

Evènement célébrant des danses traditionnelles du pays Kamba à Yenzuva (district de Mwingi) au Kenya. 14 juillet 2012
Film réalisé par Victor MISSUD, Nicolas ENAUD et Charlotte ALIX
-snip-
The organizer of this dance day indicated during the interview that he organized this event to teach the children their culture because some of the children’s parents, some people who are thirty years and younger don’t know their culture. So it’s important for these people to come and see the children and learn their culture
-snip-
[That portion of the interview begins around 3:00 in this video]

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Example #4: Kamba Traditional Dance Mbeni



ruthsheilafoundation, Published on Dec 24, 2014

At the Run with Team RSS 2014 Community Day event at Thatha Kithyoko in Machos County Kenya. Ndelekeni Dance Troupe performs "Mbeni" or "Ngulumangye"

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VIDEOS OF PARAGUAYAN KAMBA CUA DANCES
Example #1: Kamba Cuá - Afro-Paraguayan



AfroPrideTV Uploaded on Dec 9, 2010

Director, editor, researcher: Jonathan Haase
Videographer, photographer, researcher, corespondent: Eben Haase Take a rare look at the largest Afro-Paraguayan com­mu­ni­ty, Kam­ba Cua. In­cludes in­ter­views and rare footage. (Documentary)
2006

This videos is not owned by me.
Jonathan Hasse is the creator of this Documentary.
-snip-
selected comments from this video's discussion thread:

unique5589, 2011
"This is an excellent video of Kamba Cuá. African descendants are nearly on every land on this earth! We need to wake up our fellow brothers and sisters and let them know how dispersed we really are. We're not just in the United States or Africa, again, we're nearly EVERYWHERE! I will definitely pass this on to my facebook page. Thank YOU!"

**
crusherjoe8519, 2012
"I'm not of Latin American or African heritage, but I have known since childhood that people of African descent - through slavery, migration, or immigration - live in virtually all countries and lands of Latin America, the Caribbean, and many other locations around the world outside Africa."

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Dominic Brady, 2012
"Long Live Afro Latinos. Long Live Latin America.

Unfortunately, most of my fellow Americans (including my fellow Asian Americans) think that "black people" only live in the United States and Africa, and maybe in the English- and French-speaking Caribbean."

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Francis Muia, 2015
"great to learn we have brothers and sisters in Paraguay"

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bosco h,2015
"We are proud of you as fellow kamba people from Kenya. That is our culture"

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Dorothy Nduku, 2016
"I'm a kenyan and kamba by tribe, I just learned I have brothers and sister in Paraguayan."

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mango juice, 2016
"holy molly I am kamba kenyan too brother we have brothers in uganda tanzania too ngai nimuseo"

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Reply
Welcome's House, 2016
"Dorothy Nduku man we also have a big family in Ethiopia, some part in uganda and tanzania, we re plenty in congo Brazzaville. I m a bakamba/ kamba from congo Brazzaville."

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Reply
Willy Mutua, 2016
"We are pround of you am kamba too from eastern kenya welcome back home"


Rey Avalos, 2016
"Kamba Cua - where the Kamba stay - Cua, means a hole or deep place and 'kamba' I think is an African word and is related to a tribe. So, we can say that "Kamba Cua", means a place where the Kamba stay or live. I am a Paraguayan and I know very little about the existence and lives of the Kamba in Paraguay. I heard about them very seldom. But year by year the Festivals make them known more and more... Congrats to the organizers and we look forward for more festivals in the future. Long Live the Kamba in Paraguay!"

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Reply
Welcome's House, 2016
"Rey Avalos it s not just an african word it s a tribe in africa, i m a bakamba/ kamba from congo Brazzaville, there are also kambas in ethiopia, kenya, part of uganda and tanzania"

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Reply
Rey Avalos, 2016
"Hi Welcome's House - and thanks for the reply, 'kamba Cua' is now a mixed word Kamba to signify the tribe of Africa and Cua is a Guarani word meaning 'cave or hole' it is located in Paraguay (South America). I am glad that some people from Africa is getting to know that some of your tribe are living in Paraguay."

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wanzueni, 2016
"come back to kenya we are still drumming the akamba are known for this"

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Reply
Welcome's House, 2016
"I am a kamba from congo Brazzaville i m so amazed that you guys know your tribe, origin"

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Reply
Welcome's House, 2016
"May God bless me i will visit my family in South america, Ethiopia and do some charity work there. I m a bakamba from congo"

**

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Example #2: KAMBA CUA



Jorge Benitez, Published on Jan 8, 2014
Festival

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Example #3: Gramo / Lourdes Díaz / Kamba Kua: Mas Allá de las Polleras y los Tambores



Gramo Conversaciones, Published on May 16, 2015

"Kambá Kuá" es el nombre utilizado para referirnos a la única comunidad afroparaguaya formada por un aproximado de 2.500 personas, asentada a unos pocos kilometros de la capital de nuestro país. La historia de los “Kambá Kuá” se remonta a tiempos de la colonia, anteriores inclusive a la independencia paraguaya en 1811.

Lourdes es miembro de la comunidad, y como tal, nos transmite animadamente a través de esta charla que combina baile y reflexión, todas las actividades que contribuyen al desarrollo de la comunidad a través del “Grupo Tradicional San Baltazar de Kambá Kuá", mucho mas allá de las polleras y los tambores que tradicionalmente vemos en las festividades de San Baltazar cada 6 de enero.
-snip-
Google translate from Spanish to English:
Kamba Kua "is the name used to refer to the only afroparaguaya community of approximately 2,500 people, seated a few kilometers from the capital of our country. The history of the" Kamba Kua "dates back to colonial times, even before the Paraguayan independence in 1811.

Lourdes is a member of the community, and as such conveys animatedly through this talk that combines dance and reflection, all activities that contribute to community development through the "Traditional Grupo San Baltazar Kamba Kua", much more beyond skirts and drums traditionally we see in the festivities of San Baltazar every January 6th.

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Kenyan Gospel Song "Kwata Kawaya" ("Rejoice In The Lord") by Mbuvi (video, Kikamba & English lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of the Kenyan Gospel song "Kwata Kawaya" ("Rejoice In The Lord")* by Kamba (Kenyan) singer Mbuvi. The Kikamba lyrics for this song and their English translations are also given in this post.

This post also includes selected comments from that video's discussion thread, information about Mbuvi, and information about the Kamba culture of Kenya.**

*This English translation of the song's title is my guess from the English lyrics and English summary & comments that I read.

**Thanks to a commenter on that video's discussion thread for mentioning the Kikamba language. The words on the first screen of that video indicated that the video was filmed in Machakos County, Kenya. That information led me to the Wikipedia page on the Kamba people that is found below.

The content of this post is presented for religious, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks Mbuvi and thanks to all those who are associated with this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT MBUVI
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbuvi
“Mbuvi is a Kenyan award-winning contemporary gospel singer, comedian, Philanthropist and TV presenter.[1] Born Victor Mbuvi, he drew his love for music from his childhood and inspiration from his mother who died in 1999, a year before Mbuvi launched his music career. Mbuvi joined a group called His Image, who performed a cappella and various renditions of other artistes’ works.[2] We even modernised a Luo gospel folk song Niwara Nono. In 2001, he briefly teamed up with music producer R Kay and a friend to form Injili Group, which recorded Nisamehe - his first ever hit song.[3]"...

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE KAMBA CULTURE OF KENYA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamba_people#Kikamba_music
"The Kamba or Akamba people are a Bantu ethnic group - or tribe - who live in the semi-arid formerly Eastern Province of Kenya stretching east from Nairobi to Tsavo and north up to Embu, Kenya. This land is called Ukambani which constitutes of Makueni County, Kitui County and Machakos County.

Sources vary on whether they are the third, fourth or the fifth largest ethnic group in Kenya. They make up to 11 percent of Kenya's population.[2] They speak the Bantu Kikamba language as a mother tongue. The Kamba are predominantly based in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni Counties of Kenya.[3] The total population of the Kamba stands at approximately 4.1 million. The Kamba are also called Akamba or Wakamba.[4]

Origin
The Kamba are of Bantu origin.[5] They the closely related in language and culture Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Meru, and are concentrated in the lowerlands of South-Eastern from he vicinity of Mount Kenya to the Coast. The exact place that the Kamba's ancestors migrated from after the initial Bantu expansion from Central Africa is uncertain...

Language
The Kamba speak the Kamba language (also known as Kikamba) as a mother tongue. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Interesting, Kikamba has no letters 'r', 'h' and 'q' in its alphabet[8]...

Kikamba music
The Akamba people's love of music and dance is evidenced in their spectacular performances at many events in their daily lives or on occasions of regional and national importance. In their dances they display agility and athletic skills as they perform acrobatics and body movements. The Akamba dance techniques and style resemble those of the Batutsi of Rwanda-Burundi and the Aembu of Kenya"...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: KWATA KAWAYA - Mbuvi



Mbuvi Mbuvi Tv, Uploaded on Jan 27, 2011

This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!!! Kwata Kawaya!!! Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice! Philipians 4:4
-snip-
The words "Machakos County, Kenya" and "Teens for Christ" were embedded on the screen at the beginning of this video.

Here are three selected comments from that video's discussion thread.
Johnstone Katuku, 2011
"Those mad people hating on the song, you have no idea what God wants. When David danced until his clothes were off, his wife was very unhappy with hime and found it childish. It is only after knowing story that you begin to understand why they did crazy stuff in the name of God. Nothing wrong with the song imho."

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Frankensteinxx7- Home of the lions, 2012
"i'm In USA.my friend,who does not understand kikamba,finds it funny"

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Erick Maloba, 2014
"Rejoice in the Lord with all Godly instruments your hands can get to. . Rejoice, sing and dance to the Lord"

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NOTES REGARDING THE LYRICS AND THEIR ENGLISH TRANSCRIPTIONS WHICH ARE GIVEN BELOW.
The Kikamba lyrics found below are quoted from https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_show_lyrics/6762203. The English translation of those lyrics combine the translation that is found on that site and the English lyrics for this song that given as text in the video which is embedded in this post. I've written the Kikamba words and their English translation separately for greater reading clarity.

Some of the lead singer's lines were given in bold font in that video's transcription. I think that this was to indicate the call and response pattern of those lines and the line that followed them. I added that font to the English transcription that is found below. I also added instructions or explanations in brackets for some of the lines in the English transcription.

All of these Kikamba words were given in upper case letters on that website . I changed this to the forms that are found below.

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LYRICS: KWATA KAWAYA [Kikamba words]
(by Mbuvi)

Ni Ivinda Iseo, Ivinda Ya Utanu,
(It's a good day, a happy day)
Ivinda Ya Muyo, Ivinda Yiathime,
(A joyous day, A blessed day)
Ivinda Ya Nguma, Ivinda Niyo Yii
(A great/grand day, This is the day)
Ivinda Yaile, Ivinda Ya Vata
(A worthy day, an important day)

Kunangai Moko...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Sunga Vanini...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Niw'e Matambya...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Uai Mbu...
Mwiai Niwe Mutongoi Wakwa Vyu
Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X4)

Iveti Mwiaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Aume Mwiaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Boys are you blessed?
Ii Twiaseo Vyu
Eetu Miwaseo...
Ii Twiaseo Vyu

Kwonthe Ni Kuseo...
Kwonthe
Kwonthe Ni...
Kwonthe, Kwonthe (X4)

Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X4)

Asi Iwe
Ai Nivo Vau
Ia Ta Ingi Indii
Auuu

Kunai ithembe
Usyai Muui
Syiva Talumbeta
Keva Kala Ka Mbes

Kwata Kawaya...
Kakwate, Kakwate, Kakwate, kakwate Vyu (X8)

Mukilye Mwiai, Mukilye mwiai we.
We na kila kyonthe winakyo vau musyi Nukilye.
Mukilye vyu, Mukilye vyu, Mukilye vyu,

Niwe Uvosyo Waku Mwanake Mwanake


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LYRICS: KWATA KAWAYA ("Rejoice In The Lord") [English translations]
(by Mbuvi)

It’s a good day - a happy day.
a joyous day, a blessed day.
A great day. This is the day.
a worthy day, an important day.

Clap your hands...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Let me see you dance...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Stomp your feet...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.
Everybody scream...
The Lord is my leader. My true shepherd.

Play the guitar...
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines 4 times]

Ladies are your blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Gentlemen, are you blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Boys, are your blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.
Girls, are you blessed?
Yes, we are truly blessed.

There’s joy where? [Alternative translation: "Where is there joy?"]
Everywhere. Everywhere.
[Repeat these lines 4 times]

Play the guitar....
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines four times]

Asi my friend
Ai this is it.
Ila like no other day.
Auuuu! [scream]

Roll the drums. [Alternative phrasing: "Beat the drums."]
Whistle louder now.
Blow out the trumpets. [Alternative phrasing: "Sound the trumpets".]
Let’s hear the bass now. ["Bass" probably refers to the bass guitar.]

Play the guitar....
Play it. Play it. Play it. Play it loud.
[Repeat these lines eight times.]

It’s a good day - a happy day.
a joyous day, a blessed day.
A great day. This is the day.
a worthy day, an important day.
[Repeat this verse several times]

[Towards the end the lead sings the words below while others in the background sing the verse that begins with the words "It's a good day"]
Let's praise His name. Let's praise the Lord on high.
Lift the name of the Lord most high.
You and your household
Praise and lift Him up.
He is your healer and refuge, child of God.

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