African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry

by Kariamu Welsh-Asante (Editor)

This book is a compilation of essays by distinguished writers, critics and artists in the field of Dance and African American Studies who address several areas and disciplines of African dance both on the continent and in the diaspora. Sir Rex Nettleford, the distinguished Jamaican choreographer, professor and writer, stresses in the foreword to the book, the continuity between all dances that derive from Africa and the significance of this book. African dance, he argues, is a dominant, pervasive and empowering force in African communities.

The four themes covered are tradition, tradition and continuity, tradition transformed, and tradition contextualized. African, Brazilian, Caribbean and African American scholars each focus on some aspect of African dance that provide the connecting patterns. Besides Sir Rex Nettleford, other contributors to this book include Pearl Primus, Maware Opoku, Katrina Hazzard-Gordon, Myriam Evelyse Mariani, Cynthia S'thembile West and Omofolabo Soyinka Ajayi.

Genres: Africa, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

May you have the amazing opportunity to dance with these artists. This was one of the most compelling ‘required reading’ pieces I have picked up. Mama K was a force of nature and such a good, strong, example of living your art - and being truly present in your own self. This book reflects the art and history of African dance and the need for preservation and the continued sharing and education of its movements. Themes that are traditionally assigned to western dance are powerful and native in African movements - codified or loosely interpreted- and are building blocks for so many movements seen in all styles and interpretations of modality.

You can view her celebration of life ceremony including highlights of her movement studies and choreography via Temple University’s you tube channel: https://youtu.be/FGBpnQsPcCM