Ngoma

ngoma, traditional drumming and dancing

Ngoma is forever popular, with changing significance as times goes by, not like in the old days, as narrated by elders, "nowadays they even sing in Swahili" as opposed to the more local Ngoni language. Yet is seems to be as popular as ever!

as crowded as this is the usual thing whenever there is ngoma somewhere in the village

if it were not for the red t-shirts I printed and brought from Dar es Salaam in 1999 the members of the Ngoma troupe would be difficult to distinguish for the other people

but anyyone can join!

Jaribu (left), as he is called, the 'Chairman' and lead singer of the troupe

dancing, singing and whistling, and it can go on for days

the drums and similar instruments make up a veritable centre of gravity for an ngoma

a mother carrying a baby, no wonder Tanzanians have the rhythm!

dressed up in khangas

Phillip, one of my guests in the village, studies at Bagamoyo Art College, and is having ngoma as one of his interests was happy to see 'the real thing,' different form the stylized ngoma at the college

Francis (in blue), another of my guests, also studying at Bagamoyo College of Art, is here singing together with the lead singer

Phillip (centre) now drumming

the drums have to be warmed up once in a while, to keep the perfect sound

Lucas, another of the guests from Dar es Salaam, dancing

an adult drinking from a jag of beer, a child knowing I'm taking the picture!

now it is late at night - my cook (right) has joined