Want to get a good workout in while also healing your ancestral trauma? It’s not usually something you can do at the same time, but thanks to professional artist Nzingah Oniwosan, you definitely can.
Owner of Yes Baby I Like It Raw, a space in South Florida dedicated to raw vegan wellness and movement, Nzingah is the instructor behind classes like trap pilates, yoga, and most famously, West African dance. Teaching weekly classes that dive into the cultural dance rituals of West African tradition, the Haitian-American multidisciplinary has built a wellness empire out of reconnecting Black women with the roots they didn’t even know they abandoned. Here’s a deeper dive into her work and why it matters.
What is West African Dance?
In West African culture, dance is a vital part of every major milestone. Whether it’s courting, marriage, or any other rite of passage, there is some sort of specified dance to celebrate and honor it. Many Black Americans are now far removed from those practices and traditions, but when it’s activated through movement, something very special happens. “West African is important for Black women because it connects to us on a deeper level,” Nzingah says.
“Spiritually, it unpacks something that’s rooted in our DNA. It’s not just dance, there’s a rich history to it. There are stories that are tied to the practice. Oftentimes, in different wellness and fitness modalities, we’re not the place of origin. This is a place where our curves, our skin, our everything is what helped to cultivate it.”
On an emotional level, dance is a powerful, holistic healing tool that can drastically improve your wellbeing by reducing stress, boosting endorphins, and releasing the stored trauma in your hips. Being that a lot of traditional West African movement is focused on the hips, it’s an incredibly effective modality for Black women in particular. It gives the opportunity to move any grief, stress, or resentment stored in the body while getting to celebrate being in a vessel that can sweat, jump, and shake.
For Nzingah her, it was just as vital for her internal healing as much as her external.
“I actually was not allowed to dance because of the religion that I grew up in,” she explained.” I was honing into my wellness and part of my wellness was rooted in my identity as a woman of African descent.”
Nzingah’s Dance Classes
Surrounded by women, men, and young girls, Nzingah’s West African dance class is a space of movement and celebration. From beginners of the practices to experts at their craft, the common denominator is fun. Everyone is completely uninhibited and in devotion to the movement, letting their inner children run free while making their ancestors proud.
“What I love about West African dance is that it’s truly a space where everybody is welcome,” she shares about the class. “The curves are loved and not asked to be compromised. It’s beautiful to see different ages, shapes, and genders in one space really feeling at home in their bodies. You don’t need to know how to do all the moves. This is an opportunity for you to be free. We’re not forcing you to be in a box like other, more traditional dances you find in other parts of the world. It’s a place where you can find freedom and community.”
If you’re in the South Florida area, you can visit https://www.yesbabyilikeitraw.com for more information on scheduling.
The post Move, Sweat, and Celebrate Culture with Nzingah’s West African Dance Class appeared first on Blavity.
