Vusumuzi Dube recently in Binga
DUST everywhere, horns and whistles blowing in a seemingly unrhythmic manner, bells ringing, drum beating and free dancing.
This is the famous Ngoma Buntibe synonymous with the people of Binga. To bystanders, this can easily be dismissed as chaos but to its owners, this is a dance pregnant with cultural meaning. Sunday Life got to witness the “chaotic” dance during the culture month launch last week and got to find out the deep significance entrenched in the dance.
Aside from the chaos, this is a celebratory dance that the BaTonga sing right through the night before significant public events known as Lwindi, as well as cultural events such as harvest or thanksgiving (Chilimba), rainmaking ceremonies, installation of chiefs and others.
It is used to communicate with the ancestors and each song played is composed for a specific reason. This is the society famed for the manner they have over the years preserved their culture, from old women who pass time smoking pot-like pipes called nchelwa or ndombonda to the housing structures being so different, with the Ngazi — wooden huts built on an elevated platform which can be mistaken for granaries dominating the rural architecture.
Located just over 412 kilometres from the country’s second largest city, Bulawayo, Binga district in Matabeleland North is largely dominated by Tonga-speaking people. It is located south of Lake Kariba on the shores of the mighty Zambezi River which borders Zimbabwe with Zambia.
A visit to the area will, however, reveal that there is a lot more than all the myths that have been associated with the district.
This is indeed a district that is so proud of its culture, so much so that anyone you meet will immediately be interested in teaching you their local language. The Ngoma Buntibe is one such mystical dance.
So interesting is the dance that during the culture month launch, it was not only performed by groups from Binga but also visiting groups from the neighbouring Zambia. According to locals, the Ngoma Buntibe is characterised by drumming, blowing horns and free dancing.
The name Ngoma Buntibe is derived from the type of big drum whose design is such that its foot is different from ordinary drums that can balance on the ground and is played with sticks with two or more people balancing it for the one beating it.
Seven drums, ranging from a very small one to mundundu which is the lead and loudest drum as well as the biggest one known as nyina, meaning the mother of all and several horns, with two or three representing each part of a normal choir are played.
Knobkerries, spears, shields and sticks are also part of the dance as those carrying them imitate warriors fighting while elderly women will be wearing traditional Tonga regalia with beads around their necks and waists.
It is taboo to indulge in sex the night before a ceremony where Ngoma Buntibe is to be played. When following the Ngoma Buntibe one might believe that it only involves playing of instruments and dancing without words being sung yet behind the instruments, only played by men, are female voices well-choreographed to the rhythm and beat, but hardly heard by the public.
Sunday Life spoke to some of the Binga villagers partaking in the Ngoma Buntibe, during the recent installation of Chief Binga, who revealed that the dance could be over 100 years old as they found their forefathers already dancing it.
Mr Aaron Munenge from Bulawayo Kraal under Chief Binga said the songs were part of their culture which they had inherited from their forefathers.
“These songs are sung in various occasions from funerals, installation of chiefs, weddings and even memorials. These songs are mainly celebratory and meant to pass time. Most of the time the songs that are chanted have a deeper meaning and if you listen closely they refer to a certain event within the community or the particular song. While we maintain the same rhythm, the lyrics vary from community to community, all in a move to push a certain message within that community,” said Mr Munenge.
Another villager, Mr Ben Dube revealed that for them, the Ngoma Buntibe had a lot of cultural significance which they were in turn passing on to future generations.
“When you see most of the time when the dance is done, the participants will be like they are in a trance and it is difficult to remove them from the stage, that is how important this song is to the BaTonga, it’s a spiritual dance. Our ancestors left this dance to us and we are in turn leaving it to our children and their grandchildren, this is one dance that defines what being Tonga entails,” said Mr Dube.
He said Ngoma Buntibe is mandatory during a chief’s installation ceremony, like during the recent installation of Chief Binga.