sfiso_44 May 23, 2021
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Here's my description of this video: A young Black man wearing Western style jeans and t-shirt stands outdoors on a paved pier near some water. The man speaks in Zulu, providing instructions about the traditional Zulu dance (Ukusina) and demonstrates how to do that dance.
This video includes English language captions for these Zulu instruction.
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Also, click the tags below for other pancocojams posts about this traditional South African (Zulu) male or female dance form.
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HOW TO DO THE ZULU DANCE (UKUSINA)
From the English language captions that are given within this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVU3q3OyF-8
“Ukugida “Zulu Dance” is a part of our cultural practices as
Zulus.
This type that I’m about to show you is called “Shiyameni” performed on
socio-cultural celebrations as part of the celebration.
I will show you how to prepare yourself.
Before you do the Zulu Dance, there is something called “Ukufasa” to prepare
yourself.
Step 1-Your glutes must point out, away from your body.
(Read note a.)
Step 2- “Igxobo or Ibhampa”
You just stamp your feet halfway (from waist level)
It is then up to you how you play around with your feet.
Step 3- Ukusina
Lift your leg fly up high above your shoulder/head at least
two times.
(Read note b.)
Step 4--iphoyinti
Play around and close. The crowd will then call you by your nickname! For
standing ovations."
(Read notes c and note d.)
-snip-
Here are my brief explanatory notes about portions of that transcription. Additions and corrections are welcome.
a) The English meaning of “glutes” is “gluteal muscles, are a
group of muscles in the buttocks that help you move, maintain balance, and
support your spine”[from Google search]
Notice in this tutorial video that the butt is protruding out while the arms are stretched out in front of the body
b) The words “fly up” in that statement may mean something like “way up”.c) "Play around" probably means to repeat these steps and "close" means "to end that dance performance.
Based on YouTube videos that I've watched of Ukusina, a common way of ending a solo performance or the group's performance is for dancers to purposely fall on their butt. Read comment Source 3-#3 and Source 4-#2 below for an explanation of that custom.
Also, based on YouTube videos that I've watched of Ukusina, this dance can be performed by one dance, a few dancers, or a group of dancers who perform solos or perform together as a group. It appears to me that especially when this dance is performed by more than one person, the movements are choreographed and rehearsed (the dancers know what movements they are going to perform ahead of that performance, except for the movements of the solo performers.
d) "For standing ovations" probably means "for some action or vocalization that is the same or similar to giving applause" ("to show their appreciation for your performance").
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - A YouTube video example of a Zulu female group performing Ukusina
Oqhawekazi Team Blue bedlala kuNdoni Empangeni
Embo Films, Mar 31, 2024 EMPANGENI
TEAM BLUE!
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - A YouTube video example of a Zulu male group performing Ukusina
INYONI EMNYAMA | WEBABA NGOKE NGIBONE | INGOMA EBISE NANDA IZOKUDIDA ZYAHLABA IZINSIZWA LAPHA AYNGEK
Embo Films, May 13, 2024 INANDA
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ADDENDUM- COMMENTS ABOUT THIS DANCE
(Numbers added for references purposes only)
Source #1:
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukusina
"Ukusina is a type of traditional dance that has its roots in South Africa's coastal region.[1] For the Zulu people, it is an expressive and rhythmic dance form with deep cultural importance. The Ukusina[2] requires dancers to kick their legs in any direction up and out, and then stamp each foot into the ground. The majority of the time, this dance is performed for entertainment during social occasions such as wedding ceremony.[3] Ukusina dances, as a result, are socially created and center on the song leader singing interlocking word phrases.[4] Traditionally, it was thought that no religious event would be complete without at least one ukusina dance performance. Ukusina dance is a fundamental component of the social, religious, and cultural life of the Zulu people,[5] as evidenced by the descriptions of traditional dances in South Africa.[2] Everyone in attendance is drawn into a coherent action atmosphere by the intimate relationship between body movement and music.[6]"...
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Source #2
[Pancocojams Editor's note: This is a male dance group.]
1.
"i love these videos,could someone explain the meaning of the dance, please?"
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Reply
2.@NONDUDUZONGIDI, 2020
"pinehillrd478 it is a traditional Zulu dance performed by men. It is usually performed at traditional ceremonies, weddings and other celebrations."
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Based on YouTube videos of this dance form & their discussion threads, Ukusina appears to be performed by males or by females in groups separated by gender.
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Reply
@andilezondi9294, 2021
"Songs are made up of any situation, could be heartbreak, poor working conditions or love. It's a very creative form of art, most songs are rehearsed and are just perfected at the event, current economic situations are never left out. Super proud to be Zulu. Thanks πππππ"
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Reply
@khulekanibravemangumede2914, 2022
"It is called 'UKUSINA' "
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Source #3
[Pancocojams Editor's note: This is a female dance group.]
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va7q6K3yEK8 "OQHAWEKAZI TEAM BLUE OBUKA | ISIBAYA SAMADODA | EMKHANDLWINI
| OBUKA", published by Embo Films, Apr 1, 2024 #ingoma #zuludance #zulu
KHETHINI - EMKHANDLWINI OBUKA VIDEO
1. @antoinettekankindi6807, 2024
"Beautiful... Greetings from Kenya... Please explain the meaning of falling down... And why the other dancers rush"
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Reply
2. @MemoryMahlangu, 2024
"It's a style"
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Reply
3. @zakhelembhele7046, 2024
"No significant meaning to falling. It is just believed that it's the best way to finish the dance and makes it nicer. But they can still do it without falling."
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SOURCE #4
[Pancocojams Editor's note: This is a female dance group.]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhIKlbS-O5c "Oqhawekazi Blue_team | Ingoma kashemeni | Kwingoma
Kazwelonke" published by Sibusiso Thobela, Jun 8, 2023
1. @lushgreendesert3523, 2023
"When the performer girl free falls down on the ground the
other girls seem to rebuke the fallen girl. Actually what are they saying to
her ?"
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Reply
2. @SibusisoThobela
"They call her nick name loudly !!! to apritiate great performance ❤❤"
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"Apritiate" is a typo for (or a mis-spelling of) the English language word "apreciate".
This answer confirms what is given in other YouTube videos' discussion threads that performers who fall down at the conclusion of an Ukusina performance do so on purpose and other dancers are congratulating them for their performance and not rebuking them for falling down.
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Source #5
[Pancocojams Editor's note: This is a female dance group.]
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJ3txIfv5I "Izintombi - Sikwenza ngothando | ingoma kaShameni ENtshanga" published by Embo Films, Oct 31, 2023 #ingoma
#zuludance #zulu
1. @vanman724, 2023
"Would love to know the meaning and significance of this
dance. Does anyone have a good
reference?"
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Reply
2. @Terrence696, 2024
"Basically it has been passed down from gen to gen in the
Zulu culture it wat our ancestors used as a form of expression when they were
happy in events and in celebrations ."
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3. @janicejames3005, 2024
"Strong bones. Flexible muscles. Dexterity in movement. I
salute the ancestors who devised movements to keep our bodies at optimal
levels!"
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4. @pamelaakinyi7641, 2024
"Why throw legs in the air?"
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Reply
5. @ddjones780, 2024
"Tradition. Why not?"
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6. @RejoiceMncube, 2024
"We do these kinds of dances if we are happy and celebrating
some wonderful occasions NOT BATTLES OR PREPARING FOR THEM."
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This comment was written in response to a commenter who wrote that these dances prepared Zulus for fighting battles.
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