Drums: Drums can be made of many different things, though the most common drums are made of hollowed out gourds. Hides are pulled taut over the hole in the top and secured with old teeth. Drums may also be made out of hollow logs or old bones if the opportunity presents itself. Gourd drums are generally beat with paws, while wooden drums are hit with sticks and bone drums are tapped with claws to create a clinking sound.
Shakers: Gourds that have been hollowed out and covered in a sturdy netting made of thick spider's web. Attached to the web are beans and small bone pieces. The Nchi'mahadhi also use the bean from the "Flame of the Forest" tree. The bean is sixteen inches long and the seeds inside it rattle when shaken.
Jewellery: The Nchi'mahadhi wear a variety of jewellery, especially around their ankles and tails. Jewellery is used mainly for its musical aspect, thus all of it makes distinct noises when the lion or lioness moves. Most anklets are made of bones and teeth, wooden beads, or dried cocoons. Depending on the ritual, headdresses made with feathers and savannah grasses may be worn.
Rainmakers: Stoppard and hollowed out gourds filled with beans. If thick, hollowed branches can be found they may be used.
NchiMahadhi Pride
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NchiMahadhi Pride
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:04 am
Created to match the beats of drums and the stomping of feet, the Nchi'mahadhi once had a singular dance known as "The Dance." Due to the variety of rulers, shifts in pride dynamics, and the occasional tragedy, the pride evolved to accommodate many kinds of dance.
Dancing is an integral part of Nchi'mahadhi life. Since it is used in almost all rituals, all pride members learn dance steps from when they are very small or beginning the day after they join for new members. Dancers almost always wear instrumental anklets to create music as they move, and the dance is adapted to suit the drum beats or chant at hand.
It is understood that not all lions and lionesses will be skilled at dancing, and while all are encouraged to try, pride members are no longer looked down upon by their rulers for being shy, uncoordinated, or having any other justified reason for not participating. They may be chastised by other members, however, especially those of more traditional mindset.
The dancers can stomp, move gracefully, or anything in between, however rarely does a pride member ever dance by his/herself. Dances are made for multiple pride members who all move in unison and the steps performed are generally traditional ones (though there is always room for a little freestyle or interpretation).
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:05 am
The Courtship Dance IC Purpose: To make mates official / "propose" to a mate.
A pride member who wishes to take a mate formally will dance in this ritual. The ceremony may take place at any time and is started by either party, sometimes even to the surprise of their partner. While springing it on your beloved unexpectedly is viewed by some as more romantic, an individual who was not warned beforehand is not obligated to accept / join in, so the one initiating the dance runs the risk of being embarrassed. Think of it as a combination of modern day weddings and proposals. It can either turn out like this or... like this.
The pride member stands in the drum circle and beats out their own personal rhythm. The pride gathers at the sound and forms a loose circle around them. Drummers hurriedly join in, mimicking the rhythm just created. The pride member proposing then approaches his or her chosen mate and bows. If accepted, their beloved will return the bow, and then the pair must share their first dance together. The dance gets faster and faster until the pride begins to stop their feet, signifying their acceptance of the pair.
A pair is not official until this done. Lions may be considered mated, but they will not be considered "married."
For those who are for whatever reason unable or unwilling to participate -- too shy, injured, handicapped, etc. -- there is (much quieter) alternative of having the courtship proposal brought to the Malenga. She will then gather the pride, at which point the pair will be announced.
In both cases, objections can be made, though this hasn't happened in recent history.
The New Life Dance IC Purpose: Celebrates pregnancy.
This dance is used when announcing pregnancy. When a lioness becomes aware of her pregnancy, gathers three of her closest friends or family. Typically, these will be other females, but males are permissible.
The female then paints her body with the red dirt of the escarpment, centering the marks on her belly. Her chosen companions then cover themselves in the black mud created by Lake Victoria and put on old animal skulls to hide their faces as well as wear only bone jewellery.
The troupe then returns to the drum circle, where they stand on the raised platform. The chosen companions form a circle around the pregnant female, teeth bared. Once everything is in place the pregnant lioness roars, her circle echoing the challenge.
The circle then begins a high-pitched nonsense chant, dancing around the pregnant lioness. The pride gathers but does not interrupt except to add to the chant by beating the drums and stomping their feet (which is believed to bless the unborn cubs).
When the chant is at it's loudest the father of the cubs will step forward and begin dancing around the circle of the future mother's companions and repeatedly try to break the circle around his mate. Her companions will chase him away multiple times to test his determination before they finally let him and widen their circle.
Once the lion is inside the circle they will mock-attack the pair, testing the protectiveness of both mother and father. Having deemed them an acceptable pair the mother's companions roar, signifying the end of the couple's trials. The pride then congratulates the successful mother and father, and a dance is held in their honor.
IF THE FATHER IS A ROGUE OR REFUSES THE CUBS: In the event the cubs are fathered by a male outside the pride, instead of her mate, the Malenga will join the mother in the circle. This is mostly symbolic and shows that the mother, nor her cubs, are alone.
If the father refuses his cubs, things are handled on a case-by-case basis. There is no one size fits all for these uncomfortable situations.
The Introduction Dance IC Purpose: Introductions of new litters.
This dance welcomes the newborn cubs to the pride. Females give birth to their cubs in a den situated far away from the center of the pride. No member of the pride may see the cubs until she presents them, excepting their father or healers (in the case of health problems).
The female will return to the pride with cubs and beat out her rhythm in the drum circle. The pride gathers and awaits the Malenga. Once she arrives, the Malenga breaks the circle with the father of the cubs and approaches the mother.
In her mouth she brings the mother's jewellery. The mother dons all of her jewellery save for the piece she gives to her each of her cubs, signifying that they are a part of her. The Malenga then begins the welcoming chant, the pride echoing her words. The dance she performs is very simple one and with each verse of her a song a cub will step forward, say his/her name and join in the dance. Once all cubs are dancing the mother and father join, followed finally by the pride. They sing their welcome to the new cubs who are now officially part of the Nchi'mahadhi pride.
The Welcoming Dance IC Purpose: Official introductions for joining rogues.
The Lost Life Dance IC Purpose: Mourns the loss of stillborn cubs or failed pregnancies.
The Farewell Dance IC Purpose: Mourns the loss of any a pride member. May sometimes be done in the case of missing and assumed deceased.
The Initiation Dance IC Purpose: Celebrates and makes official ranks obtained at adolescent.
The Sun Dance IC Purpose: Simply to give thanks for good fortune.
NchiMahadhi Pride
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NchiMahadhi Pride
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Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:05 am
Once singing and chanting was scarce, but now nearly every ritual has a song attached to it. Singers may choose to dance alongside their pridemates or simply sing and stomp from the sidelines.
Traditionally, these were only Rhythm songs (i.e. the Hunt Song) or story songs which help the children remember their history, and always backed by drumbeats. Though is no longer the case. As of Nantale's rule, singers are held the same high esteem as dancers. They are no longer restricted by the whims of a drummer, and are encouraged to compose and present songs of their own.
Because not everyone is a lyrical genius like our lawd and savior Kanye West, players are permitted to take actual songs and edit them so they fit SoA. Just be sure to credit the original artist (preferably with a link of some sort) and, again, edit when necessary. Lions should not be singing about ringing up dem bitches on their cellphone or poppin' a wheelie in their decked out car.
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