Drumming Tradition among the Xhosa Amagqirha

Abstract Drumming is an important part of several African communal cultural traditions and is performed during initiation and ritual ceremonies because it is believed that the beat of the drum can evoke the ancestors. This article is based on ongoing ethnographic research into umxhentso traditional dances among the Xhosa people in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa in the context of amagqirha ceremonies. These ceremonies include drumming, singing, and dancing to obtain spiritual, emotional, and physical blessings and healings from the ancestors. The amagqirha ceremonies are the core of the Xhosa traditions and the role of drumming in these ceremonies has not previously received scholarly attention. This study therefore seeks to bring to the fore the cultural implications of drumming during the amagqirha ceremonies and to better understand the deeper meaning of this indigenous cultural practice. Observation, interviews, and analysis of archival video and photographic material are employed to collect ethnographic data. The findings show that amagqirha ceremonies and rituals incorporate drumming, music, and dance not simply for entertainment but also for spiritual and religious purposes.