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Gule Wamkulu was selected in 2005 to be one of the 90 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO. It is also one of the most prominent and sacred dances among Chewa people in central Malawi.
Dancers wear costumes and masks made of wood or straw and represent spirits of the ancestors, animals, and various characters, showing a combination of artistic expressions and cultural symbols. As representatives of the world of spirit and death, they dance with extraordinary power, entertaining and frightening audiences.
In modern times, this ceremony is mostly held at funerals, mourning ceremonies and celebrations such as taking the position of chief, wedding and after harvest.
Vimbuza, a therapeutic dance, was selected to be one of the 90 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2005.
Vimbuza is a therapeutic dance that cures both physical and mental illnesses, which is part of the traditional treatment. It is very popular among the Tumbuka people in northern Malawi.
Most of the patients are women who suffer from psychiatric disorders. They will be treated for weeks or months by a renowned healer who runs a house in Temphiri village.
Women and children in the village will gather in a circle around the patient and sing to call the soul for help. The men will beat drums at the specific rhythm of the spirit, then sing together and beat drums to help heal the patient’s illness.
The performance consisted of elaborate movements and prayers aimed at raising the spirits for the well-being of people in need. The sophisticated music and drumming have steadily increased, and all dance skills are part of Tumbuka’s long cultural heritage.
Tchopa, the Lomwe’s sacrifice dance, was recorded as one of the 90 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of Unesco in 2014.
Tchopa is a dance practiced by the Lomwe community in southern Malawi. It is generally performed to celebrate a good harvest, celebrate the success of hunting, or dedicate to ancestral spirits after disasters such as drought or disease outbreaks.
The Tchopa dance takes three drums of different sizes and is performed by 20 – 30 dancers, surrounded in a circle, crossing each other. Some dancers will dance with bags of farm tools, animal skins, dolls, hunting equipment, and old kitchen utensils on their backs.
Tchopa dance strengthens the social harmony of the Lomwe community. The importance of helping each other in times of need, such as sickness and loss, etc.
Mgenda, also known as Malipenga, is a traditional dance that can be found normally in central and northern Malawi. Mganda originated from a parade of marching bands and music bands by British officials of King’s African Rifles (KAR) during the colonial period.
When joining with the loud and powerful drumming, every movement is dynamic and exciting, like military training and traditional African swing rhythms.
Dancers will carry small flags or bajas made of Bottle Gourd. Grouping starts from 6-20 people or more, forming two to five rows and beating drums facing the audience. All dancers must face the same direction and dress clean and neat because the audience will judge how well they clean, dress, and iron their costumes.
These traditional dances are not only a form of entertainment, but also play an important role in preserving and passing cultural heritage from generation to generation. The dance also reflects beliefs, history, social structure by gathering the spirit of the Malawi community in these performances.
