Dance and music are a major part of African culture. Every year, a myriad of songs are released on the continent and most come with new dance styles. 2018 was not different, in fact, the year brought with it some of the most exciting dance steps we’ve had in a long time.
Most of these dance steps were trending all over the continent and beyond. The creativity that inspired these steps must be applauded as these dance steps will captivate audiences anywhere in the world. It will take a lot of self-control not to join in as they are not just beautiful to the eyes but also tempting as well.
Let’s check out some of the dance steps that took center stage in 2018.
Shaku Shaku (Nigeria)
This dance step originated from the Nigerian streets and it involves the use of both arms and legs, giving the mannerisms of a drunken person. The dance step became an instant hit worldwide and is showing no signs of losing steam. Most people refer to it as the Nigerian “gangnam style.”
Odi (Kenya)
This dance style of Kenyan origin is gospel inspired. It was started by Timeless Noel, a Kenyan gospel artist and dancer, with the aim of reaching the youth in the slums. It relates the fact that though Christ is an extraordinary being, he came as an ordinary man. “Odi” is actually a slang for the English word, “ordinary.” The dance was welcome all over the continent and is still making waves.
Gwara Gwara (South Africa)
The Gwara Gwara dance was started by South African DJ, Bongz, and it involves swinging the leg and moving the arms and body in a synchronized manner. The dance has since gone viral worldwide, it was even performed at the 2018 Grammy Awards. Several international artists have performed the dance step including Barbados-born Rihanna.
Rosalina (Democratic Republic of Congo)
This dance takes its roots from “Rosalina” a song by BM. It became an instant hit among fans all over the continent and has been featured in several dance battles since its invention. It involves aggressive movement of the feet, waist, arms, and upper body to the upbeat Congolese music. The rhythm of the dance is mostly dictated by the tempo of the music. By the way, Rosalina means “break your back,” that explains the intensity of the dance.
Pilolo (Ghana)
Hardly will a year go by without a new dance style invented in Ghana. The pilolo hit the dance floor with a bang as so many artists, both locally and internationally, featured it in their music videos, including Janet Jackson. The dance was invented by Zigi, who also invented the Kupe dance step. He explained that the dance was impressed on his mind an evening before a major video shoot.
Black Panther/Wakanda (The diaspora)
The Wakanda dance started just after black superhero movie, Black Panther, made its way to the cinemas. Such a movie with so much African influence was definitely expected to inspire such. Fans couldn’t wait to immortalize the movie with a new dance step that became a bit all over Africa.
Kwangwaru (Tanzania)
Kwangwaru was originally a song by Diamond Platnumz and Harmonize. The song inspired the Kwangwaru dance which hit the ground running. Social media went into a “Kwangwaru” frenzy as fans all over the continent uploaded their own Kwangwaru videos on a daily basis.
Countless other dance styles were invented on the African continent in 2018 and we are positive several more will be invented in 2019. We can’t wait!!!
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