ninehillsRAMBLE in the JUNGLE
African Dance Misconstrued and Misunderstood
By Wanaku Verdzekov · · Africa & the Gulf of Guinea
Date note: Undated; the date is when the author gathered it with other poems (8 January 2025).
Tags: poem, dance, stereotypes
In dance, a false belief doth linger so,
The truth to light we must strive to bestow.
Some do assert all thought descends below,
But let's dispel this myth to end this woe.
Is this a truth to cherish and proclaim,
Or but a fallacy that we should shame?
Observe the dance of Africa, dear friends,
A harmony of mind and body blends.
The body moves with grace and power bright,
Not focused on one part alone in sight.
'Tis not the nether regions thou dost see,
But a concord of fluidity.
In every step, deep meanings do reside,
A culture's soul in rhythmic waves abide.
So watch and learn, and thou shalt soon behold
The splendour of this art shall then unfold.
— Wanaku Verdzekov
Reading & grammar
Reading level: Gr 8–10
Understand
- What false belief about African dance does the poem challenge?
- How does the poem describe real African dance?
- What does the reader discover by watching and learning?
Grammar focus: archaic language. "Doth", "thou", "'tis" are old English forms (Shakespeare's time). Using them gives the poem a formal, classical tone, which contrasts with a modern stereotype.
Try it: Replace the archaic words in stanza 3 with modern English. How does the tone change?
Discuss: How do stereotypes about a culture's art spread? What can be done to correct them?