Umxhentso
Umxhentso is the traditional dancing of Xhosa people performed mostly by Amagqirha, the traditional healers/Sangoma. Ukuxhentsa-Dancing has always been a source of pride to the Xhosas as they use this type of dancing in their ceremonies.
This dancing includes overt shoulder movements that include shaking the thoracic and the rest of the upper body, stomping barefoot. Umxhentso is usually accompanied by a drum beat or slow vocal music called ukombela with clapping to give the dancers a rhythm to follow.
Characteristics
Xhosa people wear beaded clothes when they perform umxhentso. The name of these traditional garments is umbhaco, while their cousins, the Zulus, wear animal hide and colourful clothing and beads. They usually paint themselves prior to performing. Umxhentso is mostly performed in the Transkei homeland in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where the tradition is still valued.Musical accompaniment includes :
- Uhadi musical bow
- Drum Beat
- Composition and singing of theme songs called ukombela
- A whistle-Impempe made out of Ingcongolo reed