Mapouka
Mapouka (also macouka,"la danse du fessier", or "the dance of the behind") is a modernized version of a traditional dance from the
The dance is mostly performed by
In 1998, following complaints from citizens and women's rights groups,[4] the government of Côte d'Ivoire banned Mapouka from public and television for being "sexually perverted, lewd and obscene".[3][1] However, the prohibition was ended in 1999 after President Henri Konan Bédié was overthrown by Robert Guéï in a military coup. Following the prohibition of Mapouka in Côte d'Ivoire, the dance enjoyed a global following elsewhere in Francophone West and Central Africa, where it faced similar controversy and was outlawed or chased away by authorities in Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin in western Africa and Cameroon in central Africa.[5][3]
The dance is similar to what is referred to in belly dance as "shimmies". The fundamental difference is that in belly dance it is performed while upright and facing the audience, whereas Mapouka is performed more often while bent over and facing away from the audience. The hip movements are however the same.
See also
External links
References
- ^ ISBN 9789171064967.
- ISBN 978-0-226-57519-3.
- ^ a b c Orishi, Norimitsu (28 May 2000). "Dance Has Africans Shaking Behinds, and Heads", The New York Times.
- ^ "D'IVOIRE-MUSIC: Public Outcry over Censored TV". 31 March 1998.
- ^ "BBC News | Africa | Togo bans provocative dance".