| caption: |
ceremonial Sema women's dance, "Aphilo Kuwo" |
| text: |
This women's dance celebrates the joy of the moment found in almost all Sema festivals. It is performed to a vocal melody, wordless but structured around onomatopoeic sounds and cries. The women advance in a line. Their repeated steps are of three kinds: running jump, sliding, and a small jump to a standstill. |
| text: |
The heavy ornaments which the dancers wear cause a jingling to the rhythm of the song and dance. The last dancer gives out great shouts, basically at the beginning and end of the songs. |
