Draft:Ekizino

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Ekizino, also known as a winter warm-up dance, is a traditional social dance of the

Bakiga people, a Bantu ethnic group of Northern Rwanda and South Western Uganda. It is an energetic dance performed by both men and women to celebrate the hard work and harvest of the Bakiga, who are agriculturalists. Instrumentation for the dance includes hand-clapping, embuutu (big drum), omukuri (flute), played with five finger-holes, ensaasi (shakers), and rhythmic singing led by a lead singer.[1][2]

Background

The Bakiga are believed to have originated in Rwanda as mentioned in one of their folk songs: “Abakiga twena tukaruga Rwanda, omu Byumba na Ruhenjere” meaning that all of us Bakiga, we came from Rwanda in Byumba and Ruhengeri.[3] They are the descendants of Kashyiga, who came to be called Kakiga son of Mbogo from the small Kingdom of Bumbogo in Rwanda. He came to form the present community of the Bakiga of Kigyezi or Kigezi as a result of immigration.[3] Around 1,400 Bakiga are thought to have arrived from Rwanda in the mid-1800s and settled in what is now Kabale District in south-western Uganda. Due to overcrowding, the colonial authorities relocated them to the north Kigezi, Ankole, and Tooro sub-regions in 1946, and former president Idi Amin sought to relocate them to Karamoja in 1973.[4] Due to overpopulation, the Bakiga have been migrating to other parts of Uganda especially to Kabarole, Rukungiri, Kasese, Hoima, Masindi and Mubende districts; and Rwampara, Ruhuma and Ibanda counties of Mbarara district. They have also settled in Masaka and Rakai districts.[5][4]

Origins

Ekizino is said to originate from stretches and warm-ups done by men and women while farming.[6][7] The dance was also influenced by neighboring cultures, such as the Banyankole, Bafumbira, Banyarwanda, Batooro, Bahema, Baruuli, Bwisi, Bahaya and Banyambo, who share some linguistic and cultural similarities with the Bakiga.[8]

Performance

The Ekizino dance is usually performed in groups of men and women, who wear colorful costumes and adornments. The men wear animal skins, hats, belts, and necklaces, while the women wear long skirts, headscarves, beads, and bracelets. Traditionally, women wore cow hide as lower skirting and a crop-top to cover the upper body. Men had a low cover under their shirts and skin over their chests.[9][10]

The dance involves clapping accompanied by musical instruments,embuutu (big drum), Omukuri (flute) - played with five finger-holes, ensaasi (shakers) and sometimes engoma (small drum) and enanga (harp). The dance is led by a lead singer, who sings the verses and initiates the chorus, which is repeated by the rest of the dancers. The lyrics of the songs are mostly about praising the Bakiga culture, the beauty of the land, the love and unity of the people, and the gratitude for the blessings of God.[11]

The dance movements are characterized by vigorous jumping and stamping of the feet, which create a rhythmic sound on the ground.[12] The dancers also raise their hands up and down to match the legs, and sometimes clap their hands or wave them in the air. The dance is performed in a circular formation, with the men and women alternating in the circle. The dancers also move in and out of the circle, and sometimes form smaller circles within the larger one.[9][10]

It is characterised by powerful strength, stamina, and agility for both male and female community members. This dance has primarily been transmitted by experienced dancers trained either through folk-dance organizations or by local techniques of transmitting dance that is community occasions of practice such as weddings, birthdays, and other festive events.[12]

The dance is performed with enthusiasm and joy, and the dancers often scream or shout to express their emotions. The dance can last for several minutes or hours, depending on the occasion and the mood of the dancers. The Ekizino is performed during weddings, traditional ceremonies such as kuhingira, victories, and celebrations of hospitality.[9][10]

Significance

The Ekizino dance is a significant aspect of the Bakiga culture. It expresses dancers' pride and appreciation for their culture, their land, their people, and their God, and is also a way of celebrating their hard work and harvest, and their resilience and strength in overcoming the challenges of life. It fosters social cohesion and harmony among the Bakiga, as well as with their neighbors and guests. It is a form of entertainment and education, allowing for the transmission of cultural heritage to the next generations.[9][13]

The Ekizino dance is also a way of promoting tourism and cultural exchange, as it attracts and impresses many visitors and admirers from within and outside Uganda. The dance also provides an opportunity for dialogue and interaction between the Bakiga and other cultures, as well as for learning and appreciation of each other’s cultures.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ "Ekizino Dance -- [Digital Collection of East African Recordings]". diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  2. ^ Ssebulime, Andrew (2022-09-07). "Music As Dance and Dance as Music: Kizino Dance Training, a Dance Moment in the Diasporic Transmission Context". Le Centre Pour la Communication Scientifique Directe - HAL - SHS.
  3. ^ a b "Traditional Dances of Uganda - Popular Dances". Guide to Uganda. 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  4. ^ a b "How Bakiga migrated from Rwanda to Kabale". Monitor. 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  5. ^ "Population explosion forces Bakiga to migrate to Ankole, Tooro". Monitor. 2021-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  6. ^ Love, Justine (2020-06-18). "Of Bakiga Cultural Dance – 'Ekizino'". Gamba with J. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  7. ^ "Uganda Traditional Dances: An Integral Part of Uganda's culture". www.ugandaimmigration.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  8. ^ "Bakiga people". 101 Last Tribes. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  9. ^ a b c d Tayebwa, Andrew (2022-03-10). The exploration of creative value in the use of proverbs: a case study of selected Bakiga proverbs (Thesis). Makerere University.
  10. ^ a b c "Why we dance the way we do". Monitor. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ^ "Uganda Traditional Dances. Top Cultural Dances In Uganda". ugandasafariexperts.com. 2023-12-23. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  12. ^ a b Ssebulime, Andrew (September 2022). "Music As Dance and Dance as Music: Kizino Dance Training, a Dance Moment in the Diasporic Transmission Context". Journal of African Cultural Studies.
  13. ^ Ssebulime, Andrew (September 2022). "Music As Dance and Dance as Music: Kizino Dance Training, a Dance Moment in the Diasporic Transmission Context". Journal of African Cultural Studies.
  14. ISSN 2524-2741
    .
  15. ISBN 978-9970-25-245-9
    .
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