Okochokwa
Okochokwa is a dance of endurance passed down over generations to help tribes communicate with their forefathers after migrating great distances.
You can learn more about Okochkwa from the text below or watch the video Enduro Dance where children of Olukonda dance and explain its origins.
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Ancient Migration
Although there is some contention in the details, there is a general consensus that a great migration of Bantu speaking tribes moved from West and Central Africa into Southern Africa between 3000 BCE and 500 CE.
Whilst it is inevitable that migratory tribes will have mixed with local groups, it is common for tribes to attempt to retain their identity as a natural reaction to protecting their culture and way of life. As such it is common that migrants place great importance on identifying with their origins. Protecting original culture and traditions is an important part of retaining strong identity which in turn helps tribes to uphold order and organisation within their group. Following such practices brings stability and security to a tribe which can help their people to prosper and succeed in their new environment. However, it can also be argued that if a migratory group do not attempt to adapt and change with their new circumstances, they may fail miserably in an unknown land.
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It seems that identifying with the culture of one's origin is a deeply primal aspect of human society. As such migrants' desire to cling to their culture of origin is so strong that they are often observed to uphold cultural traditions with greater strength than those who remain in their original lands. This is the result of a cultural defence mechanism, putting up a shield of cultural identity, to help conserve the integrity of the migratory group when surrounded by a more numerous culture. As a consequence it is quite possible that an entire religion or language maybe lost to the inhabitants of the homeland, whist migrants displaced many thousands of kilometres away have managed to preserve those important aspects of their culture and continue to protect them vehemently.
Language, religion, ceremony, literature, art, music, cuisine, architecture, dance, sport, games and others are all potentially part of a tribe's culture. Okochokwa is one such aspect of culture that is both a game and a dance.
Many tribes that are descendants of the ancient Bantu migration such as the Kwanyama and the Ndonga, participate in the game of Okochokwa as part of their fight to retain their culture.
Ancestral Messages
Okochokwa is a highly energetic activity demanding a great deal of effort from its participants. When 2 tribes come together for an important meeting, Okochokwa is used as both as a tool to resolve disputes but also to communicate with the spirits of the ancestors.
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Because Okochokwa is such an intense activity, the dancers will find themselves thrown into a hypnotic trance of music, rhythm and muscular exertion. In this moment the dancers are supposed to reach to their spiritual ancestors for guidance to be better equipped to deal with their future endeavours.
Such a strong connection to ancestry must build a very strong bond between tribes members and also give the individual a great sense of purpose that overarches personal ambition.
Rules
Okochokwa has 2 very simple rules:
1. Dance as long as possible.
2. With as much vigour as possible.
When 2 dancers from opposing tribes come together in a contest of Okochokwa, they are essentially attempting to outclass each other in both dancing style and physical stamina. Dancers must impress their audience with vigorous moves continuously until they can dance no more.
The audience reaction reflects the overall appreciation for a dancer's moves in real-time, essentially acting as a gauge of each dancer's performance. If the crowd approves, wails of support will inspire a dancer to continue with their current style, whilst a quiet reaction will ring the signal the dancer's demise.
If the dancers are of equal match and continue to dance at each other's pace, it will be their dancing style that determines their fate. But if one of the dancers fails to keep up appearances purely due to physical inferiority, then their opponent will win on pure physical superiority.
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