DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0382
366 HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
Ntzyatiya: like likuti, but played in a different way, giving the sound “tya tya tya! ”
Mchoso: the same as likuti, but with a higher pitched note. This can be produced by
heating the likuti drum over a fire.
Chichoma or lingaka: a small drum eight to ten inches high, held in the hands by strings
on either side, in the same way as a concertina, and pressed against the chest while being
played with the fingers. It may be alternately pressed firmly and lightly against the chest,
giving variety in timbre. The base which rests against the body is cut down into a kind
of foot-piece (Pl. XXII, fig. 13).
Chinganga: a small drum eight to ten inches high, rather goblet-shaped with stem and
base, the circumference about equal to the height. It is beaten with two sticks, “ ngan-
ganga nganga! ” (Pl. XXII, fig. 17).
Chiminingo: the same drum played with two sticks, “mini, mini, mini! ”
Ndimbe: a small three legged drum about the same size as chinganga. It can be carried
in one hand and played with the other. It is used with one stick or more, in place of chin-
ganga and chiminingo (Pl. XXII, fig. 16).
Msiwu: an old drum not now used. It varied in size from one to four feet long, was
suspended from the neck, and played at both ends (Pl. XXII, fig. 14).
It is very difficult to give any idea of the time and different sounds the drums give.
People learn them by repeating the sounds the drums make thus: Nde din de ntepete
nde din de mini mini ntiya ntiya, etc. Several drums, often six or more, are played together,
each contributing its element of sound. They are often played very fast, but the time kept
is most exact.
Dances are ordinarily performed by everyone in a village, but there is always a leader.
Or again, there are trained bands of dancers who earn their living by attending ceremonies
or any festive occasion. In a few cases, the dances are only danced by professional dancers.
A short account is given below of many of the Yao dances.
Likwata: (ku-kwata, to clap the hands). No drums are employed, but the time is kept by
clapping. In some villages, drums have lately been introduced. It is a common dance in
a village on any moonlight night, just for amusement. Women and girls take part. Stand-
ing in a circle, they sing and clap, while any who wish, go into the circle, perhaps a dozen
at a time, and dance their shuffling steps. A song which is included under likwata, is a rep-
resentation of the dung-beetles (scarab) rolling the little balls of dung to their nesting
places. The women shuffle backwards or forwards, like the beetles, one pushing and one
going backwards pulling. As they dance, they sing:
“ Litono, tuti tuti! ”
“ (oh little) dung-beetle, push push! ”
Refrain:
“ Likututa manyi! ”
“ It is rolling dung! ”
Ntzyatiya: like likuti, but played in a different way, giving the sound “tya tya tya! ”
Mchoso: the same as likuti, but with a higher pitched note. This can be produced by
heating the likuti drum over a fire.
Chichoma or lingaka: a small drum eight to ten inches high, held in the hands by strings
on either side, in the same way as a concertina, and pressed against the chest while being
played with the fingers. It may be alternately pressed firmly and lightly against the chest,
giving variety in timbre. The base which rests against the body is cut down into a kind
of foot-piece (Pl. XXII, fig. 13).
Chinganga: a small drum eight to ten inches high, rather goblet-shaped with stem and
base, the circumference about equal to the height. It is beaten with two sticks, “ ngan-
ganga nganga! ” (Pl. XXII, fig. 17).
Chiminingo: the same drum played with two sticks, “mini, mini, mini! ”
Ndimbe: a small three legged drum about the same size as chinganga. It can be carried
in one hand and played with the other. It is used with one stick or more, in place of chin-
ganga and chiminingo (Pl. XXII, fig. 16).
Msiwu: an old drum not now used. It varied in size from one to four feet long, was
suspended from the neck, and played at both ends (Pl. XXII, fig. 14).
It is very difficult to give any idea of the time and different sounds the drums give.
People learn them by repeating the sounds the drums make thus: Nde din de ntepete
nde din de mini mini ntiya ntiya, etc. Several drums, often six or more, are played together,
each contributing its element of sound. They are often played very fast, but the time kept
is most exact.
Dances are ordinarily performed by everyone in a village, but there is always a leader.
Or again, there are trained bands of dancers who earn their living by attending ceremonies
or any festive occasion. In a few cases, the dances are only danced by professional dancers.
A short account is given below of many of the Yao dances.
Likwata: (ku-kwata, to clap the hands). No drums are employed, but the time is kept by
clapping. In some villages, drums have lately been introduced. It is a common dance in
a village on any moonlight night, just for amusement. Women and girls take part. Stand-
ing in a circle, they sing and clap, while any who wish, go into the circle, perhaps a dozen
at a time, and dance their shuffling steps. A song which is included under likwata, is a rep-
resentation of the dung-beetles (scarab) rolling the little balls of dung to their nesting
places. The women shuffle backwards or forwards, like the beetles, one pushing and one
going backwards pulling. As they dance, they sing:
“ Litono, tuti tuti! ”
“ (oh little) dung-beetle, push push! ”
Refrain:
“ Likututa manyi! ”
“ It is rolling dung! ”