During the week, they’re bakers, drivers and teachers — but on Sunday, they dance to keep tradition alive. Matlhodi Malope reports from the African Cultural Heritage Trust competition
THOKO NDIMANDE was often punished for her love of dancing at school, when she dodged lessons to watch troupes perform at the Market Theatre. “Dancing is in my blood,” she says. “And what is exciting now is that every time I join a group, I end up taking the lead.”
Ndimande (28) leads, directs and designs costumes for the Amaziko dance group from Snake Park, Soweto — one of the many African Cultural Heritage Trust (ACHT) competitors who attended the regional competition in the National Traditional Dance Knockouts at Jabulani Amphitheatre on Sunday.
The ACHT was established after extensive research by experts and leaders of South African indigenous traditional arts organisations. Their aims are to “bridge cultural, social, intellectual and spiritual rifts” and to “restore respect for African customs, ideals, principles and values”.
Amaziko was among the groups competing in the category of Shameni, a vigorous Zulu dance designed to keep culture alive in the ever-changing 20th century by mixing new styles with the traditional. The 16 men and women in the troupe stamped, twirled and shook their bodies energetically; the women shimmying so that their wool-and-bead skirts lifted to show red underwear and the men marching forward, shields and kieries aloft, to kick the air. But it was not enough to qualify them for the finals.
Michael Mazibuko, one of the eight Amaziko male dancers, resigned from his eight-year job as a waiter at the Sandton Sun to join the group early this year. His fellow dancers, too, had given up their jobs for dance.
“I just didn’t have enough time to practise like others because I used to work on shifts: every time I got a chance to join my group, I would be far behind with progress and this delayed the others,” Mazibuko says.
“I love traditional dancing, I hope we get enough money to keep us going. Right now things are not going well for our group financially. We keep ourselves alive by busking in town.”
Ten-year-old girls, Gugu Kubeka and Zanele Tshabalala, are Amaziko’s veterans. They started eight years ago, when the group still used buckets as drums. “I make sure that after school I do my homework quickly and rush to Sis Thoko’s place for rehearsals,” says Gugu, clad in a beaded costume which Ndimande designed.
Unlike Amaziko, who live from hand to mouth, all the Black Tigers dancers have jobs. The chairman of this Dobsonville hostel group, Mike Cele (35), a driver, carries his uniform — a look-alike graduate’s gown – – on his shoulder. Cultural dance, he says, brings him closer to his parents, who live in Natal.
“In our tradition, people gather around at weddings and celebrate by dancing. My wife, who is a teacher, doesn’t personally like it but as long as she does not stop me from my hobby, it is not a problem.” He laughs, adding sarcastically: “You know how educated people are when it comes to such things.”
The Black Tigers group was formed in 1979, but started competing only five years later. Like many dance groups, they are strict in their commitment: there’s a R5 fine for those who don’t turn up for rehearsals. The fines and prize money go towards travelling expenses and costumes.
They rehearse at the hostel after church on Sundays, and their perseverance is paying off: twice they have been placed first. “But today I don’t think we will get the first prize,” says Cele. “There is another group I suspect will beat us. Anyway, we’ll see after the results announcement.” He could afford to be casual: the group would go through to the finals if they made second position.
Baker Isaac Mpongose’s love for traditional dance began when he saw a group of dancers 12 years ago and found the performance “magical. Most of the dancers were elders. After that performance, I decided to ask Mamelodi West hostel guys for support,” he says.
Mpongose calls his group Student Boys because they entered the competition for the first time this year. “But though we are beginners, I am sure we won’t be position 12 (the last),” he says with confidence.
One could have heard a pin drop when adjudicator Barbara Nomalanga Ndumo announced the winners. “You all did very well,” she said, “but we can’t all be winners.” The screams and whistles of excitement from the winners — Izinyoni Sezulu — could have woken the dead. As expected, Cele’s Black Tigers obtained the second position, qualifying for the finals.
* The finals will be held in Johannesburg on October 23. Regional eliminations for Swazi, Tsonga and Zulu dancers are at Jabulani Amphitheatre, Soweto, on September 4 and other eliminations will take place throughout the country in September and early October