Seven YouTube Videos Of Traditional Tharaka (Kenyan) Dances
Written on: November 15, 2021
Title : Seven YouTube Videos Of Traditional Tharaka (Kenyan) Dances
link : Seven YouTube Videos Of Traditional Tharaka (Kenyan) Dances
Seven YouTube Videos Of Traditional Tharaka (Kenyan) Dances
Ura Gate Tharaka Traditional Dancers.Jan 31, 2021
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases seven videos of traditional dances performed by Tharaka (Kenyan) people.
Some information about Tharaka people is included in this post along with a few comments from the discussion thread for the video that is given as #6.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the Tharaka people and thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the producers and the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
I happened upon the video given as #3 below while randomly "surfing" YouTube for videos of African music and dance. I'm African American and unfortunately, I wasn't aware of the Tharaka people before I watched that video.
There are additional videos of Tharaka dances on YouTube. However, it's very difficult to find information online about those dances. If you are familiar with Tharaka dances, please share information online. For instance, what is the meaning of these dances and on what occassions were they traditionally performed? Are the dances as shown in these videos still traditional or have they been adapted? Thanks in advance for sharing information about Tharaka culture with the world.
BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT THARAKA PEOPLE
Excerpt #1
From https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/the-tharaka-community-of-kenya-national-museums-of-kenya/ngKCMhEi2AShKw?hl=en
"A look into the history and culture of the Tharaka community
The Tharaka are a Bantu-speaking ethnic community in Kenya. They are a sub-community of the Ameru, and their origin is connected to the culture of the Chuka, Mwimbi, Imenti, Tigania and Igembe communities. The language of the Tharaka is Kiitharaka. The larger Tharaka community is located on the low plains between the slopes of Mount Kenya in the west and the upper Tana River in the east, Tharaka-Nithi County.
Migration and settlement: from Congo to the Tana River
Their history of migration dates back to the spread of the Bantu people from Congo, where the Tharaka remained near the river and the rest settled in the Meru County."...
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Excerpt #2
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tharaka-Nithi_County
"Tharaka-Nithi County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in Kenya's former Eastern Province. The county has an area of 2609 km2 and as of the 2019 census a population of 393,177.[2]
The county consists of three constituencies: 60. Maara, 61. Chuka/Igambang'ombe, 62. Tharaka.”…
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Excerpt #3
From https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhsse/v2-i2/4.pdf "A Social Narrative on Tharaka People in Kenya, Africa" by Beatrice Kabui Icheria
International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2015, PP 49-55 ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online) www.arcjournals.org
Page 49
..."Many people across Kenya call a Tharaka person, Mutharaka a Mumeru (a Meru person). However, some Tharaka people (Aatharaka) view themselves as an independent entity from the Ameru and others regard themselves a sub-section of the Meru community. There has been insufficient information both in hard and soft prints on Tharaka as a sub-tribe of the main Meru tribe or as an independent unique entity outside the Ameru. Very few publications have information concerning this people, while some researchers and anthropologists have written wrong claims concerning Tharaka people and other ethnic groups.
The historical origin of Aatharaka is enshrined in the Ameru legends and folklores. Many readers across Kenya therefore have little clue who a „Mutharaka‟ is, including the news reporters who misreport on the people because, they lack background information concerning the area and the people. Many have gone to an extent of destroying the cohesion of Aatharaka with their neighbours because they rely on the background information relayed to them by people who are
Page 50
not from Tharaka."...
[...]
Page 51
...Creation of Tharaka-Nithi District in 1992 increased a feeling of “autonomy” by Aatharaka.
The district was edged from the main Meru District. The new districts were named Nyambene (later Meru North), Meru and Tharaka-Nithi (was to be named Meru South). Tharaka-Nithi District was not named Meru South; because it was felt that Atharaka needed a unique identity as a people independent of “Meru”. The opinion of the people is divided on this. Some people see it as a self-uplifting ego while others view it a sign of patriotism.
Further, Tharaka-Nithi District got sub-divided into two districts: Nithi District comprising of Chuka, Mwimbi and Muthambi, and Tharaka District composed of Aatharaka only. It is during this sub-division that the Nithi District residents felt the need to pick up the chance for a name they had been “denied”. Meru South District resurfaced. Tharaka District mountainously stood out as a self entity; a self people with no mixture of blood and their desired name “Tharaka” District came by.
Currently, Tharaka people have cordial relationship with other Meru Sub-tribes. Modern political intrigues put aside, they relate with Chuka people as brothers. They believe they both were born of the same father but different mothers. The Chuka‟s mother was called Ciampandi and Tharaka mother was Ciangoi. Aatharaka are said to have blood relationship, “Giciaro” with the Muthambi community therefore are not supposed to intermarry. They also share some clans with the Imenti and Tigania peoples making them “blood” relatives but can marry."..
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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS
VIDEO #2: Kigane Traditional Dancers - Exit Song (Authi style) - The Singing Wells project
The Singing Wells Project, April 9, 2014
Recorded in Nkubu, Kenya, on the 4th March 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chle2G4OcOc&ab_channel=TheSingingWellsproject
For more information on the recording, go to http://www.singingwells.org/stories/day-3-nkubu-to-mariene-to-murungurune-to-nkubu/-snip-
Here's an excerpt from that page:
..."The Music Groups
Mariene Traditional Dancers
This group formed in 2003 and is led by Simon Munuki. They are from the Ameru Ethnic Community. Their musical style is Kirarire and Authi.
The lead singer wears Murungi, an ornament on both sides of the arms which is worn by the initiator/circumciser; it signifies a man of respect and authority.
Their costumes include Lesos, necklaces, face painting, spears, fly whisks, gourds, and head gear, called Nkoroi made out of cow skin, with Monkey hide. The women cover themselves with green head scarves. The group uses the Kibere (shaker), performed by Jeremiah M’Mbiwiriaft, and the Coro (the flute), played by Simon Muriuki."...
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VIDEO #3: Tharaka dancers.
Karani M'thari,
Social entertainment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_YR1Q2wkj4&t=208s&ab_channel=KaraniM%27thari
-snip-
Is the dance that is performed in this video the Authi dance? If not, what is the name of that dance and is this dance really just performed for social entertainment? Was that the reason why it was traditionally performed?
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VIDEO #4: Nchungo: A Tharaka Dance
Wega Team, Dec. 21, 2019
The larger Tharaka community is located on the low plains between the slopes of Mount Kenya in the west and the upper Tana River in the east, Tharaka-Nithi County. Nchungo is one of the most romantic dances, with vigorous movements atuned to the drums...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJzaGSoCxUg&ab_channel=WegaTeam
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VIDEO #5: A Tharaka dance that everybody won't wish to miss.
NEWSFLASH KENYA, August 3, 2020
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VIDEO #6: Authi
Ura Gate, Tharaka Traditional Dancers, Jan 28, 2021
'Authi' Performed by Ura Gate Tharaka Traditional Dancers
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. All of these comments are from 2021. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6DZHYrfzzc&ab_channel=UraGate%2CTharakaTraditionalDancers
1. mawata douglas
"Good work Authi! Good work Mhesh Matanka. Marimanti represented too."
2.
"I love our traditions well done Ura gate dancers and Mhe.Matanka
3.
"Soo nice, when I misses the authi i just click, keep going"
4.
"This is it.. I love it."
5.
"Nice traditional songs"
-snip-
Here's a quote from https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ijhsse/v2-i2/4.pdf "A Social Narrative on Tharaka People in Kenya, Africa" by Beatrice Kabui Icheria. (Read the brief excerpt from this journal article that is given above.)
"Page 52
Folk songs and dances of the pre-colonial and colonial eras such as ncungo, mburi, njai and Kibuco are no longer performed but Folk songs such as Kirarire, Authi, Mbeere and Gacanda (a more recent dance) are sang and danced with pomp for circumcisions."...
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VIDEO #7: Najai
Ura Gate, Tharaka Traditional Dancers,Feb 1, 2021
'Najai' Performed by Ura Gate Tharaka Traditional Dancers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUk3zavqaWM&ab_channel=UraGate%2CTharakaTraditionalDancers
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