Zaouli

Zaouli is a traditional dance of the Guro people (who speak the Guro language) of central Ivory Coast. The Zaouli mask, used in the dance, was created in the 1950s, reportedly inspired by a girl named "Djela Lou Zaouli"[1] (meaning "Zaouli, daughter of Djela").[2] However, stories on the origins of the mask are varied, and each mask can have its own symbolic history.[3]

A zaouli dancer

Each Guro village has a local Zaouli dancer (always male), performing during funerals and celebrations.[1] The dance is believed to increase the productivity of a village that it is performed in, and is seen as tool of unity for the Guro community, and by extension the whole country.

The Sri Lankan-English rapper M.I.A. included a clip of a Zaouli dancer in her music video for the song "Warrior", released as the video Matahdatah Scroll 01: Broader Than A Border in 2015. Next to that it is also used by Psytrance artists CAPTAIN HOOK & ASTRIX for their music video clip - BUNGEE JUMP (ZAOULI DANCE) in 2013.

References
  1. "Zaouli de Manfla: The Zaouli dance of the Ivory Coast, West Africa - The Kid Should See This". thekidshouldseethis.com.
  2. oldwomanyellsatclods. "Traditional Dances; Zaouli from the Ivory Coast".
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

M.I.A. video (Matahdatah Scroll 01: Broader Than A Border): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJuFdkMOP20

Example of the dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ572yLH9sc

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