Dance, an identity of the African people

The history of the African continent is linked to its cultural richness. Like cinema and gastronomy, dance is part of the factors of the identity of the African peoples.

Since the ‘dawn’ of time, Africa has always been the object of particular attention. Its cultural wealth, history, among others were factors that strongly influenced its emergence. The dance is the peak of the elements that make this continent a very dynamic cultural reservoir.

There are several African dances. Each country relies on a gesture, a different rhythm to express their culture as important as the meaning of life.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo Kinshasa have been for very long, the flagship of African dance. Who has not heard of the Kwassa Kwassa and Rumba, two rhythms that music lovers continue to rock.

The Ndombolo, the Sukus, the Chaoui, Kisomba etc are other examples of dances that brought the colours of the continent very high. Dance cannot dissociate itself from music. For each type of dance, there is a well-suited music.

Cameroon is part of the repertoire of the most well-known dances of the continent. The dances are most of the time, associated with scenes and therefore often representative of particular expressions.

The Magambeu is native to the West which is danced generally during major events and burial ceremonies; the Assiko is the fetish dance of the Bassa populations from coastal, Bikutsi, meanwhile, is a dance at the same time music that belongs to the people from the Centre. Bafia dance, for example, is a symbol of the country. "One step forward, two steps back," noted the fans.

In the opinion of expatriates, dance plays a very important role in awareness and especially the reputation of the different countries of Africa. It impresses with its diversity and attracts through the different rhythms. "Dance is an essential element of the African cultural heritage. She is the living expression of its philosophy and the memory of its evolution.

“Before arriving in Cameroon, I had already heard of the Bafia dance and it attracted my curiosity on Cameroon, this is part of the cultural wealth of the country" noted Alexandre Du Buysson, a local Director of Jovago.com, first site of hotel reservation online in Africa. Many festivals in Africa and around the world today allow this real art export and make themselves known to the public.