Women empowerment through dance heritage: A case of xibelani dance of the Tsonga people in South Africa

Abstract

This study is an ethnographic look at xibelani as a physical and cultural phenomenon that speaks for and communicates Tsonga cultural values through the performance of xibelani in its many social situations. Fieldwork research was undertaken from June to September 2020 in order to obtain data for this study. The fieldwork was conducted among the Tsonga community in South Africa, Limpopo province. The purpose of the analysis enshrined in this study is to provide a comprehensive and holistic picture of how the Tsonga people are embracing the use of xibelani musical performance as a way of empowering women in society. Because xibelani incorporate music, bodily motions, and cultural values as important components of the tradition or heritage, theoretical views such as ethnomusicology and anthropology are dialoguing with ethnochoreology in this dissertation. Human bodies are essential tools in the performance of xibelani.