Xibelani

We saw this and its an interesting look at culture. A trailer for a documentary directed by Maya Wegerif (Sho Madjozi). A story of the history of xibelani, the traditional Xitsonga garment tells the story of the history of an ethnic group and ultimately the history of black South Africans.


Xibelani is often worn by Tsonga women for wearing in traditional weddings or axiseveseveni. This somehow created  a dance around it. Which is called the xibelani dance (Shibelani, Shibelana, Shibelane) is an indigenous dance of the Tsonga women of the Limpopo province in northern South Africa. The name of the dance comes from the native Xitsonga language.  


Traditionally women dance the xibelani, while men perform the makhwaya, Xincayinciy(xigubu) and on rare occasions participate in the mchongolo