alfrheitta,
-snip-
For the purpose of this post, I'm most interested in the dance that is performed at the beginning of this video to 1:44.
****
venda dance
nkosiafrika, May 13, 2010
great va venda mothers proudly dance @a wddng in soweto south africa
-snip-
"wddng" = "wedding"
Notice that, in contrast to traditional performances of the python dance, these women are joyous. Also, notice that these women form more than one vertical line.
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases two YouTube videos of the Venda (South African) python dance.
Information about the Venda people is also presented in this post along with online article excerpts, YouTube videos, and YouTube comments that provide information about this dance.
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the Venda people for preserving this dance and other parts of their traditional culture. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
Comments about the Venda's Domba Dance (also known as the python dance)
A number of online sources about the Venda's Domba dance attribute various meanings for this dance. These online sources don't always agree about why this dance was and is performed and some of these reasons may be completely or partially incorrect.
The two videos that are embedded in this post document that in addition to its traditional performances, the Venda Domba dance is also being staged in various theatres by Venda and non-Venda people and is also part of the entertainment at Venda weddings.
**
Please be aware that traditionally, females who perform this dance are topless. A number of YouTube videos of this dance show females who aren't wearing any bras or shirts, including DOMBA ii:Python Dance, March 7, 2020. That video is mostly an interview with a Vendan man, but unlike other YouTube videos, it includes short clips of very young girls learning this dance with older girls and women. Judging from that video, the term "python dance" is used as a referent for this dance by Venda people as opposed to it being the name of that dance that was conferred by non-Venda people.
It should also be noted that the term "domba" isn't a translation of the word "python". Instead, according to some online sources (such as the one given as Excerpt #3 below) "domba" refer to the school that provided information to females and taught them this particular dance. females.
**
I've watched other YouTube performances of what seem to me to be more traditional examples of the Venda Domba dance. However, I haven't showcased those examples. This is largely because pancocojams is a family centered blog and I'm concerned that public education and community institutions in the United States (and possibly elsewhere) would prohibit access to this pancocojams blog in its entirety because of content that is considered inappropriate for children.
**
I believe that the reference to the Domba dance as a "python dance" and the fact that traditionally this dance is performed in imitation of a python's movements, is pertinent because of the meanings that Venda culture give to pythons (snake) as well as to crocodiles. Note that the lake where the domba is held is known for its crocodiles.
Read the excerpts about the Venda's python dance given below.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/12/pdf-excerpt-about-symbolism-of-pythons.html for more information about the Venda's python dance.
Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/12/four-video-examples-of-close-formation.html for a 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Four Video Examples Of The Close Formation Marches That Are Sometimes Performed By New Sorority Members As They Enter Their Probates & Their Probable South African Dance Inspiration".
A 2013 post on that subject is found at http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/similarities-between-venda-python-dance_7.html. That post which is entitled "Similarities Between The Venda Python Dance & Black Sororities Probate Line Formations". That post includes several videos of the Venda python dance as well as four videos of similar vertical line formation at the beginning of probates for each of the four historically Black Greek letter sororities that are members of the The National Panhellenic Conference (informally referred to as the Divine 9).
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE VENDA
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venda_people
"The Venda (VhaVenda or Vhangona) are a Southern
African Bantu people living mostly near the South African-Zimbabwean border.
Venda people share ancestry with Lobedu people and Kalanga people. They are also related to Sotho-Tswana and Shona groups."...
****
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venda
"Venda (/ˈvɛndə/) was a Bantustan in northern South
Africa, which is fairly close to the South African border with Zimbabwe to the
north, while to the south and east, it shared a long border with another black
homeland, Gazankulu. It is now part of the Limpopo province [of the nation of
South Africa]. Venda was founded as a homeland by the South African government
for the Venda people, speakers of the Venda language.[4] The United Nations and
international community refused to recognise Venda (or any other Bantustan) as
an independent state."..
****
EXCERPTS FROM ONLINE ARTICLES ABOUT THE VENDA DOMBA DANCE
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes themselves.
Excerpt #1
From https://hadithi.africa/2018/12/13/domba/
Culture:·December 13, 2018·
The Venda Mystical Initiation – Domba.
"Domba is the third and final phase in Venda girls’
initiation, which should have been attended after a girl had been to vhusha and
tshikanda. It takes place every year at the head-quarters of chiefs and certain
senior headman.This traditional dance is held at the Fundudzi lake, which lies
between Thohoyando and Louise Trichadt. This is where the Venda women go for
initiation.
Its importance to the Venda was marked by the use of the bass drum (ngoma), which was also used in tshikona, the Venda national dance. There were a number of special rites and shows associated with domba, but its most notable feature was the great domba dance, performed regularly in the evenings. The girls formed a long chain (deu) and moved in a clockwise direction about the courtyard. The girls began with a monotonous response to the lead singer; then they broke into the ecstatic tivha khulo style of vocal hocketting; and at the end of the dance the girls stopped moving and would lean over toward the centre of the circle. The dance symbolised the mystical act of sexual communion, conception, the growth of the foetus, and child-birth. The successive performances of the dance during the months the school was in progress symbolised the building up of the foetus.
Domba is a very sanctuary moment for the Venda people. They celebrate and embrace their culture and traditions, thus passing it down to generations to come. The dance celebrates her womanhood and at the ceremony, men attend the occasion particularly to pick a wife.
Excerpt #2
From 2008 pdf by Kent D. Fowler, University of Manitoba entitled "Social Memory and the Antiquity of Python and Crocodile Symbolism in Southern Africa"
..."
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/12/pdf-excerpt-about-symbolism-of-pythons.html for the pancocojams post entitled "PDF Excerpt About The Symbolism Of Pythons And Crocodiles In Venda (South African) Culture". Additional statements about this subject are included in the comment section of that post.
Excerpt #3
From
"Venda…Venda Rituals
Initiation: The Domba is a pre-marital initiation, the last one in the life of a Venda girl or boy. The chief or sovereign will 'call' a domba and preparations are made by the families for their girls to be ready and to prepare what's necessary to attend the ceremony (entry fees for the ruler, clothes and bangles). Historically girls used to stay with the chief for the whole duration (3 months to 3 years) of the initiation; nowadays because of schooling, girls only spend weekends at the ruler's kraal.
This rite of passage was attended by both girls and boys
after each individual had previously attended other separated initiations
dedicated to one's gender; Vusha and Tshikanda for girls and Murundu for boys
(the circumcision done during this rite has been introduced by North Sotho).
Since the missionaries decided that mixing males and females in the same ceremony was immoral. Only girls attend the Domba which has two main functions teaching girls how to prepare themselves to become wives (birth planning, giving birth and child care, how to treat a husband, and nowadays the teaching of AIDS risks); and bringing fertility to the new generation of the tribe.
Music and Dance
Various rituals are particular to the Venda and certain
aspects are kept secret and not discussed with westerners, however, it is known
that the python dance, conducted at the female coming of age ceremony (iconic
to the Limpopo region) is usually where the chief chooses a wife.
Girls and boys dance fluidly, like a snake, to the beat of a
drum, while forming a chain by holding the forearm of the person in front. Once
a wife has been chosen a set of courtship and grooming rituals take place over
a number of days.”….
****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R29xw7h4Ye0&ab_channel=AfricanTravelCrew
"Limpopo,the most famous of the Venda dances, the Domba dance
African Travel Crew, Apr 3, 2018
-snip-
The actual dance begins around 2:03 in this video. Warning: The women are topless.
Here is my caption transcription:
1:11 [transcription of a man talking to the camera] "Domba is a Venda dance. When our daughters are ready to
get marry we take them to the domba to teach them about marriage. We here as
the elders have a responsibility to take the virgin girls to the domba. In our
Venda culture, the girl can’t be a part of her husband’s family without having
domba lessons. After taking the young girl to the domba and making sure that
she’s pure then she will be allowed to get married and start a family."
****
Excerpt #5
From https://www.morningsun.co.za/activities/venda-cultural-experience/
[...]
"The Venda Culture
The Venda culture is built on a vibrant mythical belief
system, and water is an import theme, believing lakes and rivers to be sacred,
and that rains are controlled by the Python God. One of the most sacred sites
of the Venda is Lake Fundudzi. Here annually the Domba Python Dance is held, an
offering of beer is poured into the lake, and young maidens, as the final stage
of their initiation into womanhood, line up in single file and dance in long
winding lines, like a snake. The Domba is important to secure good rains for
the following season.
[…]
Venda Culture: Domba Dance
The most famous of the Venda dances is the Domba, or python
dance which is held annually at one of their most sacred sites, Lake Fundudzi
to secure good rains for the following season. Young maidens, as the final
stage of their initiation into womanhood, line up in single file forming a
chain and dance in long fluidly, winding lines, like a snake. Traditionally the
dancers wear small aprons covering the back and front, with tasselled ornaments
called thahu.”…
****
Excerpt #6
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVjfhMr-SUg&ab_channel=ZAMBEMEDIAGROUP
DOMBA ii:Python Dance
ZAMBE MEDIA GROUP, Mar 7, 2020
[video summary] "Domba a traditional school practiced by Vha Venda people of
the Limpopo province in South Africa remains a sacred school. However,
recurring public performance cause uproar among some group as some patterns are
exposed unduly to public.
In this episode we look at what is allowed and when. This
ancient school was used to train girls to motherhood."
-snip-
Warning: The females in this video (including the young girls) are topless.
****
Excerpt #7:
bigbluemeanie, Uploaded on Nov 9, 2006
The famous Domba initiation dance of the Venda tribe of Southern Africa
-snip-
The women may be topless in this very brief video, but that can't be determined because of the way they are standing.
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers given for referencing purposes only)
1. bigbluemeanie, 2007
"Imitation? This is a
stage performance by a you[t]h group. This is one short extract from a show which
covers a range of South African singing and dancing styles, from traditional to
struggle taking in the 1950's Sophiatown, etc. Do you think if they wore mashedo
it would be more "authentic"?"
**
2.bigbluemeanie, 2007
"I believe that they are based in Soweto, in the Thusong
Youth Centre."
**
3. filato22, 2010
"you can say that again its more zululized than venda. proudly venda"
-snip-
This comment isn't visible in December 17, 2020.
3. MissAki1, 2011
"What is the exact meaning of this dance? does it represent a snake?"
**
Reply
4. bigbluemeanie, 2012
"@MissAki1 Domba was the third and final phase in Venda girls' initiation, which should have been attended after a girl had been to vhusha and tshikanda. It took place every three to five years at the head-quarters of chiefs and certain senior headman, and lasted for about one year. Its importance to the Venda was marked by the use of the bass drum (ngoma), which was also used in tshikona, the Venda national dance. There were a number of special rites and shows associated with domba…
**
Reply
5. lizclarinetful, 2012
"@MissAki1 Domba is the last of a series of initiation
schools that prepare girls for marriage. It is emphazise on sex and
reproduction. They are designed to prepare girls for the motherhood. Each
peformances of the dance symbolize sexual intercouse, and succesive
performances symbolize the buiding up of the fetus. The music and the dance
symbolize the act of the sexual communion, conception, the growth of the fetus
and childbirth"
**
6. Azanian Bantu, 2019
"Tswanas doing a Venda dance 💃🏾💋🥰"
****
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