Why is zulu dance performed

The Indlamu dance is the traditional male warrior dance, and it shows off muscular strength and mock fighting.

The Imvunulo dance only has one dancer and is done to show off traditional Zulu attire and place in society. Isicathamiya is a dance performed by a group of men or boys standing in a straight line to symbolize community life and issues.

At weddings, both the Ingoma and Indalmu dances are done, along with Umbholoho dances. These types of dances feature both families of the newly married couple. In the Isishameni form of Ingoma, the boys and girls dance separately, and the opposite genders clap along for each other.

The Indalamu dance is done with drums and whistles. The Isicathamiya and Umbholoho dances are danced to both drums and songs. Girls are bare-chested and wear wool skirts and ankle rattles during the Ingoma dances and reed dance. Full regimental attire, precise timing and uncompromised posture are required. It is danced by men of any age wearing headrings, ceremonial belts, ankle rattles, shields and weapons like knobkerries and spears. While indlamu uses similar steps as women do for ingoma, it has a much more calculated, less frantic feel, showing off muscular strength and control of the weapons with mock stabs at imaginary enemies.

Dancers are more likely to make eye contact with the audience. Various drums and whistles accompany the dance. The group is introduced in Twi before their performance. The Adowa dance is a sign of expression that allows performers to communicate their emotions and feelings through their hands and feet. There are different hand movements performed for each setting, people will communicate positive emotions at weddings or engagements and negative emotions at funerals.

Its name is literally agha, a woven stretcher for injured people, and dza, referring to the treatment of injuries or pouring libation for healing.

Agbadza is usually performed outdoors in a circular area defined by chairs and benches around its perimeter. According to an article by professor D. Amenumey, the Ewe people originally came from Ketu, a Yoruba area in modern day Benin, but were eventually forced to migrate eastward as a result of Yoruba expansion ibid. This is a dance performed by boys and girls without drums and accompanied by a chant. The girls wear woolen skirts and are usually bare-chested. They also wear rattles made of seedpods around the ankles to accent the high kicks.

The Ingoma is one of the purest remnants of Zulu tradition. Boys and girls perform the dance for transition ceremonies such as coming of age, weddings. In the past it was performed before a hunt as well as before battle.

For the youth it instils the tradition of sharing experiences and building solidarity through communal dance. A harmonising performance with boys and girls together but dancing separately. The boys clap while the girls dance and vice-versa.