DANCING ON THE EQUATOR 



year. They would not dream of dancing their equivalent 

 of the fox trot in the summer, if it was recognized as a 

 springtime dance. They do not vary their program as 

 we do ringing changes on the waltz, fox trot, one step 

 and tango, but are faithful to the same dance through- 

 out its proper season. 



Sometimes the men dance alone, and at others they 

 join the damsels in a kind of Highland Reel. There are 

 more intimate dances which only take place in the se- 

 clusion of their villages. There are, of course, ceremonial 

 dances which are closely connected with religious festi- 

 vals, in these even the old men and Chiefs participate 

 and many a time I have watched them become rejuve- 

 nated and intoxicated with the sheer thrill of it. On such 

 occasions they often break away, forming small groups, 

 and perform a little dance by themselves. 



In Kenya, whatever the dance may be, it is always 

 called N'goma; indeed N'goma is a word which can be 

 applied also to any form of amusement — a musical in- 

 strument, a drum, or a toy for a child. It might even 

 mean a jazz band, for these are not unknown amongst 

 Westernized Africans nowadays. So strong is the fas- 

 cination of new instruments that young men have been 

 known to sell all their most treasured belongings to ac- 

 quire them. 



The night N'goma of the A-Kikuyu, which I shall 

 describe, is known as the "M'goiyu," and is by far the 

 most fascinating dance it has yet been my pleasure to 

 witness. This dance is peculiar to the Highlands of 



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