DAnces of the
Diaspora
Name of Dance: Punta
Ethnic Group: Garifuna, a mixture of indigenous Kalango people (Carib people) and Africans. Some accounts say there were African Maroons that came to the new world through the Middle Passage. Another account states that they were Africans from the Malian Empire post slavery who explored and settled in the New World.
Countries of Origin: Originally St. Vincent. Now found in Honduras, Belize, and Guatemala.
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Name of Dance: Second Line Dancing
Ethnic Group: African-Americans
Cultural Group: Some refer to themselves as Creoles
Meaning/Social Function of Dance: Street processional dance developed from funeral traditions that merge Christian and African concepts about death and the celebration of life. Though this type of dance evolved from jazz funeral procession it currently takes the form of community street jazz processions done to marching bands.
Clip of Dance:
Name of Dance: Black Indian Masquerading
Ethnic Group: African American and Native American​
Meaning/Social Function of Dance:
These masquerade dances honor the ancestors including the Native Americans whom many African Americans hid amongst and fought with as Maroons to escape slavery. Black Indian Masquerade dancing can also be said to be a form of warrior dancing between tribes of Black Indians and their Chiefs much like Asafo companies defended themselves and their chiefs from encroachment.
Clip of Dance:
Name of Dance: Asafo Flag Dance
Ethnic Group: African American & Native America
Cultural Group: Fante People of Cape Coast
Meaning/Social Function of Dance: Asafo dancing is a form of warrior dance done by Fante members of Asafo companies. The Asafo are in charge of defending the state. The word Asafo derives linguistically from the words: war ("sa") and people ("fo").
Clip of Dance: