reed-dance, noun

A traditional ceremonial dance accompanied by reed flutes, part of the culture of several African peoples.
[1824 W.J. Burchell Trav. II. 411When the dancers, who were all men, had tuned their reeds, they formed themselves into a ring...The rings was drawn as closely together as their number would conveniently allow, but each person danced separate.]
1838 J.E. Alexander Exped. into Int. I. 233On the 20th February, the chief, according to Namaqua usage, presented me with six sheep, and gave me a grand reed dance.
1841 B. Shaw Memorials 25The reed dance is carried on with high glee. A leader, bending forward his head, and at the same time stamping violently upon the ground to keep time, commences the performance.
1897 R.S.S. Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign 14A native reed-dance was going on in the ‘stadt’ (as they call the native town).
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 397Reed dance,..A dance in vogue among the Bechuanas, in which each man blows upon a reed flute, or whistle of very small compass, two notes at most. The men dance in a circle stamping the time, while women move round the outside of the circle clapping their hands.
1987 Royal Swazi Airways Tourist Guide 3When the ‘Reed Dance’ is performed in August-September colourfully dressed maidens gather reeds and dance before the Queen Mother at Lobamba.
1987 J. Khumalo in Pace Nov. 158Modern though Swaziland is, the tiny kingdom is steeped in tradition and no ceremony is more honoured than the annual reed dance.
1987 B. Lau Namibia in Jonker Afrikaner’s Time 16Among the popular dances were those called the Pot Dance and the Great Reed Dance. The former involved exclusively men, the latter apparently only women dancers while the men played the reeds...These dances were probably shared by people on both sides of the Orange river.
1994 TV1, 19 Sept. (News)Attending the Reed Dance of the Maidens at Nongoma on Saturday.
A traditional ceremonial dance accompanied by reed flutes, part of the culture of several African peoples.
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Traditional African Religion and Culture
reedbuck, nounn.reef, nounn.
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