Connect the stories

Xingomana Dance of Generations

Connect the stories related to the musical portrait "Xingomana - Dance of Generations". Immmerse yourself in the themes addressed in this mini-series of short films.

Watch in any order as the films connect in dialogue with one another.

06:03

Xingomana de Nwajohane perform at home

In Gaza Province the Nwajohane Xingomana Group perform for the community and the film crew of André Bahule's film for the "Speak My Sister" film series, "Xingomana - Dance of Generations" (2018). The performances of both songs are taken from the film "Nhenha" (Bahule, 2018). a longer 26 min director's cut of the film.

17:35

Behind "Xingomana - Dance of Generations" Part 1. Mozambican films by Mozambicans

Young researchers André Bahule, Angelica Novela and Isard Pindula are hosted by the community of the rural village of Nwajohane, near Manjacaze, Gaza in southern Mozambique. They learn about the lives of the wives and widows of migrant labourers working in the mines and factories accross the border in South Africa. The women share their lives, their thoughts and their songs with the young Mozambicans from the capital, reminding them of the importance of the art of conversation, of singing, dancing and telling stories ad teach them the rhythms and dance steps of their dance xingomana. This film accompanies the film produced out of this research, Xingomana - Dance of Generations. (https://vimeo.com/396504054)

13:28

Xingomana - Dance of Generations

A musical portrait of three generations of women living in rural Gaza in southern Mozambique. “We work the land and we dance. That’s what we know how to do” Maria, the elder of the three explains. She danced Xingomana since her early childhood in colonial times, learned the new songs during the revolution, and now twists and stamps her feet in the sand alongside her daughters and grand-daughters. Through stories, song and dance, this film weaves a portrait of women’s lives over half a century and celebrates the strength and spirit reflected in their dance.

14:57

Screening Xingomana - Dance of Generations in Gaza

Filmmakers André Bahule, Isard Pindula and Angelica Novela take their film back to the community of Nwajohane, in Gaza Province, in Southern Mozambique where it was researched and filmed.

About The Films

Young mozambican filmmakers research and produce a musical portrait of three generations of women living in southern Mozambique. Maria danced Xingomana since her early childhood and now twists and stamps her feet in the sand alongside her daughters and grand-daughters. Through stories, song and dance, the short film "Xingomana - Dance of Generations" weaves a portrait of women’s lives in the rural interior of Gaza province over half a century and celebrates the strength and spirit reflected in their dance. Take a look behind the stories of the filmmakers and their subjects in the film "Behind Xingomana - Dance of Generations" and "Screening Xingomana" as the film is screened in the community. Watch the group perform to the filmmakers and the community in "Xingomana de Nwajohane perform at home".

About The Film-Makers

The four young people behind this film are from the south of Mozambique. They grew up in communities similar to the community of Nwajohane in the film. They speak the same language as the protagonists and have similar cultural references. They all live in the capital and lived in the village of Nwajohane during the research and produciton of the film. Director/Sound: Andre Bahule. Researcher/Production: Angelica Novela. Camera: Isard Pindula. Emidio Jozine