nyau
- noun
- South African
:
nyau
- The secret adamantly kept by association members is that the nyau is a man in disguise.
- nyau masks
- nyau dancers
- nyau yolemba
Examples
-
The central part of the funeral ritual is the all-night performance at which a number of nyau yolemba appear.
Academic text (1993) -
Bobo Yosiya offered me the first glimpses into local village life and the Nyau, a secretive society of the Chewa people.
Academic text (2007) -
People identify each nyau character by its name and the content of the accompanying song.
Academic text (1993) -
The masks used by nyau are divided into three types.
Academic text (1993) -
I do not mean to imply that the nyau dance is a mere performance.
Academic text (1993) -
The method of making nyau yolemba is as follows.
Academic text (1993) -
Various kinds of nyau yolemba appear along with these nyau.
Academic text (1993) -
There is a large variety of nyau yolemba, most of them portraying wild animals.
Academic text (1993) -
The day after the declaration, men and women begin their different tasks: making nyau yolemba and brewing beer.
Academic text (1993) -
During the festival, the audience watched the nyau perform intricate dances filled with vibrant colors and music.
Synonyms
A secret men's group in parts of West Africa that leads initiation ceremonies
A traditional group in West Africa that trains girls for adult life
A ceremony where boys become men and are welcomed by their community
A traditional Zulu dance performed at special celebrations
A lively traditional dance from Africa with joyful, energetic steps
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nyau is the name given by the Chewa people to their masked dance and the group who perform it in Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique. So the word nyau refers to this traditional dance and the people who keep it alive.
