Kifudu dance of the Mijikenda people

Kifudu (Chifudu) is a sacred, women-led funeral and ritual dance of the Mijikenda people. It is highly performative and features rattles, chants, and a traditional percussion instrument called lungo- i.e., Uteo or winnowing tray with tsongo, i.e., broken bottles and bottletops inside the lungo (uteo) shaken rhythmically in perfect harmony. Kifudu, a culturally unifying dance, was used by Mekatilili Wa Menza in the early 20th century to propagate anti-colonial campaigns and defend Mijikenda culture. Mepoho, a revered 13th-century prophetess and seer from the Giriama people, predicted that a Mekatilili would rise to lead her people in resisting colonial rule and defend the Mijikenda culture, people, and land. #mijikendaculture #kifudu #mekatililiwamenza #mepoho #africanhistory #kenyanmusic #traditionaldance