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Glite Dictionary
ngoma

ngoma

1 9.9
A traditional African gathering with drumming, dancing, and rituals, or the drum used there
  • noun
  • South African
: ngoma
  • The villagers gathered for a lively ngoma to celebrate the end of the rainy season.

Examples

  • During the ngoma, elders shared stories and young people performed traditional dances.

  • Tourists were invited to join the ngoma and experience local music and customs.

  • The village held a ngoma to celebrate the harvest.

  • Children danced joyfully during the ngoma ceremony.

  • The villagers gathered for a lively ngoma to celebrate the end of the rainy season.

  • During the ngoma, elders shared stories and young people performed traditional dances.

  • Tourists were invited to join the ngoma and experience local music and customs.

Surface Forms

ngoma singular
ngomas plural

Etymology

Ngoma comes from Bantu languages such as Swahili and Zulu, where the word meant 'drum' and then 'dance' or 'ceremony'. So, ngoma today can mean the drum itself, the dance, or the whole celebration where people drum, sing, and dance.