warba dance

[bubudi]

warba is the main celebration dance of the mossi people who are the largest ethnic group in burkina faso. they are centred around ouagadougou, but also spread to the ivory coast, mali, ghana, togo and benin. a long time ago, the warba dance was reserved for a ritual of the same name which occurred only for enthronements and funerals. the bendre, a calabash drum covered with a sheep skin and struck with the hands, is traditionally used to play the lead. this drum has associations with the court of the naba, or mossi chief. and for announcing important messages. also traditionally accompanying the dance are lunga (tension drum similar to a ntama, only bigger), dunun, kiema (iron bell) and wiga (flute).

warba is a highly energetic dance. the distinctive feature of warba dance is the rapid shaking of the hips and bottom. there are also acrobatic movements. there are more than 30 movements and the number is growing. dance costumes are also distinctive: a flared skirt of braided cotton and bells tied around the waist like a belt, traditional hats, necklaces and other ornaments made from leather and ceramic shells. nowadays quite colourful costumes are worn and the dance features in many festivals and competitions, including the biannual warba festival in ganzourgou, where warba troupes compete for the best rendition.

many of the mossi dances have all but died out due to prohibition by christian missionaries and muslim imams. the warba is one of the dances that has made a comeback in recent times.


warba dance at a traditional mossi ceremony in kaya village, burkina faso:




warba performance spectacle