The Functional Role of Traditional Music and Dance in Xhosa Traditional Healers’ Ceremonial Rites
Benjamin Obeghare Izu 
& Alethea de Villiers
Issue: Vol.3 No.13 December 2022 Article 6 pp.716-729
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20223136 | Published online 30th December 2022.
© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
African societies have always used traditional music and dance to celebrate events, interface, and connect with divinity, especially during communal ceremonies. The central thesis of this paper is that traditional music and dance are transforming agents used by Xhosa traditional healers during ceremonies to gain insights into the nature of a society’s experiences and to connect with supernatural beings. This study, therefore, investigates the functional role of traditional music and dance used during Xhosa traditional healer’s ceremonies, employing direct observation, video recordings, and interviews, as well as a descriptive qualitative research design. The findings revealed that traditional music and dance provide a safe environment for divinity practices and healing. Furthermore, traditional music and dance bring traditional healers closer to their ancestors, increasing acceptance and self-discovery during ritual proceedings. Even though music and dance are vital parts of various aspects of Xhosa cultural life, they have received limited scholarly attention. This paper, therefore, provides commentary on the functional role of traditional music and dance during Xhosa traditional healer’s ceremonies and offers reflections on the functionality of traditional music and dance in contemporary Xhosa culture.
Keywords: Xhosa; traditional music and dance; traditional healers
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Benjamin Obeghare Izu is a post-doctoral research fellow at Nelson Mandela University. He obtained his DLitt et Phil degree in Musicology, M.A Musicology (CUM LUADE) both from the University of South Africa and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Delta State University, Nigeria. His current field of research is Ethnomusicology, African music and dance ethnography, his research interests include ethnic music and music history and world music.
Alethea de Villiers is an Associate Professor and lectures music education, arts education, musicology, music history and piano at the Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. She has extensive experience in the creative arts and professional development for teachers. She has written texts for schools and has published on music education policy. She is a reviewer for several South African accredited journals and international journals. Her research interests include citizenship education, education policy, multicultural education, and musicology. She is an active member of SASRIM, SASMT, and ISME.
Izu, B.O. & de Villiers A. “The Functional Role of Traditional Music and Dance in Xhosa Traditional Healers’ Ceremonial Rites,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 3, no.13 (2022):716-729. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20223136
© 2022 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Publishers. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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