Engraved on African people’s cultural and traditional practices is a rich dance history reflecting shared identity, communal values, and the preservation of historical dance practice. The influence of social media on the pedagogy of dance promotes a universal sharing of quick, upbeat dance sequences loosely rooted in the need to generate content to remain relevant on the platform. This contrasts with the purpose of African traditional dance, which is deeply rooted in relaying historical narratives and fostering spiritual and social connection. The consolidation of dance into 30-90 second sequences commercialises African dance by simplifying movement so that it becomes a mere vocabulary in the construction of a dance language. The dominance of social media cannot be disregarded as it is at the forefront of negotiated and reimagined realities and, failing to acknowledge this, risks foregoing the opportunity it presents to serve as an educational and archival platform for African dance practice. Furthermore, the online (virtual) and offline (physical) space should establish similarities in feel and likeness. The virtual is an extension of the physical. This allows for a contextualisation of the dance form. Returning to the drum demands a recalling of historical dance practice and prevention of the extinction of African dance. It requires deliberation so that it will exist alongside modern-day popular dance cultures that emerge as a result of social media. This paper proposes ways in which ancient and modern African dance practices can remain rooted in the same sentiment whilst making room for dance to be interpreted in accordance with its time.
Onalenna Sellwane is a writer, theatre maker and digital marketing creative based in Johannesburg. She is a social entrepreneur at heart and prides herself in ensuring that communication exists at the centre of her work. Onalenna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. She serves as a creative director for Unrehearsed Projects, an organisation aimed at amplifying dance styles across the African diaspora whilst facilitating cultural exchange across various regions on the African continent. Onalenna believes in the power of storytelling as a tool for social change.