Ivory Coast: Ndara – Sonufu People Ngoro Dance

Another spectacular traditional dance show we had in a small village of Ndara in north central Ivory Coast – Ngoro Dance. This dance is usually an initiation ceremony for young boys – lots of dancing and singing around the fire, followed by a fire ceremony, where a man sits into the open flames, supposedly purifying himself and the entire community. The act symbolizes the dancer’s connection to the spirit world and the protection granted by ancestors or spiritual forces. The person sitting in the fire is a spiritual leader of the community.