African Folklore: An Encyclopedia - Marshalls University

African folklore 534
Kigezi, southwestern Uganda, 1995.
Photo © Wade Patterson.
Members of the Nebbi Community
Adungu Group performing social
dance music on adungu bow harps,
Uganda, 1995. Photo © Wade
Patterson.
Waist-Centered Dances:
Dance traditions of the southern regions of Buganda and Busoga emphasize gyrating
waist movement. Upper body motion is minimized while specific foot patterns create the
desired waist movements, which are further accentuated by cloth and skin adornments
worn around the hips.
Leaping and Stamping Dances:
Western Ugandan dances often accentuate movements that bring the feet into forceful
contact with ground. In Bunyoro, for example, activated rattles worn around the ankles
during the ekitaguriro dance emphasize such action. In the northeast, among the
Karamojong, dances in which performers wearing ankle bells leap in place are common.
Dances Emphasizing Arm, Leg, and Head Movement:
Dances of northern and northwestern Uganda use combinations of arm and leg
movements, which often reflect work-related motion. The use of ankle bells is common,
but foot movements are not generally as pronounced as with the western stamping
dances. Waist movement is usually linear (either front to back or side to side) and not
gyrating, as in southern Uganda. Many of the northern regions (such as Acholi and
Karamoja) also use a variety of head adornments that emphasize subtle neck and head
movements.