Unyago
Encyclopedia
In swahili culture
, most notably in Zanzibar
and in some areas of western Kenya
, the word unyago refers both to a set of ritual
s and to the music and dance styles that are traditionally associated with such rituals.
The unyago rituals were practiced to celebrate the coming of age
of girls or during wedding
s. In those rituals, older women would teach the young ones about sex
and conjugal life. These rituals would last several days and be accompanied by dances and music.
In modern East Africa
, unyago rituals are still occasionally practiced, but unyago dances and music are also performed independent of such rituals, as part of the local folk music
. Bi Kidude
and Bi Ngwali are two well-known Zanzibari singers who occasionally perform unyago music.
Swahili culture
Swahili culture is the culture of the Swahili people living on the east coast of Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique as well as on the islands in the area, from Zanzibar to Comoros, who speak Swahili as their native language....
, most notably in Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
and in some areas of western Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, the word unyago refers both to a set of ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
s and to the music and dance styles that are traditionally associated with such rituals.
The unyago rituals were practiced to celebrate the coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
of girls or during wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s. In those rituals, older women would teach the young ones about sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
and conjugal life. These rituals would last several days and be accompanied by dances and music.
In modern East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, unyago rituals are still occasionally practiced, but unyago dances and music are also performed independent of such rituals, as part of the local folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Bi Kidude
Bi Kidude
Fatuma binti Baraka is a Zanzibari Taarab singer. She is considered the undisputed queen of Taarab and Unyago music and is also a protégé of Siti binti Saad. Bi Kidude was born in the village of Mfagimaringo, she was the daughter of a coconut seller in colonial Zanzibar...
and Bi Ngwali are two well-known Zanzibari singers who occasionally perform unyago music.