Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
African dance
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
rock painting of a dance performance Gelede masquerader Gelede mask Yoruba dance Jukun women dancing Yoruba dance staff mask representing the mwanapwo Makishi dancer Tutsi hunters in Kivu, Zaire perform the ceremonial lion dance outdoors, wearing costumes with headdresses resembling a lion's mane and playing drums. Lotuxo rainmakers
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
rock painting of a dance performance
rock painting of a dance performance Rock painting of a dance performance, Tassili-n-Ajjer, Alg., attributed to the Saharan period of Neolithic hunters (c. 6000–4000 bc).

African dance

Written by
John Picton
Lecturer in African Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Coauthor of African Textiles.
John PictonAll
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

African dance, performing art deeply woven into the social fabric of Africa and generally involving aspects of music and theatre as well as rhythmic bodily movement. See also African music and mask. In African societies, dance serves a complex diversity of social purposes. Within an indigenous dance tradition, each performance usually has a principal as well as a number of subsidiary purposes, which may express or reflect the communal values and social relationships of the...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile