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    • Home
    • About the music
    • Types of Music
      • Shanto
      • Calypso
      • Chutney
      • Folk
      • Reggae
      • Other
    • Traditions/Clebrations
      • Cumfa/Kumfa
      • Queh Queh
      • Dance
      • Mashramani
      • Soiree
      • Other
    • Extra Sources
    • Bibliography
  • Home
  • About the music
  • Types of Music
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Music and Culture in Guyana

Music and Culture in Guyana Music and Culture in Guyana Music and Culture in Guyana
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Kumfa/Cumfa

About

 Kumfa (also known as Cumfa), is defined as the pulsating beat of African drums. It is an African possession dance that is native to West Africa. This dance is characterized by the possession of spirits which are summoned by the drumming done by the people taking part in this. This drumming is said to initiate spirit possessions in humans and it is called forth by the rhythmic beating of African drums.  


 The Kumfa ceremony and dance is said to have originated  from the worshiping of a king on the Congo River, who was known as King O’Cumfa. It is believed that the African ancestors of the slaves worshipped King O’Cumfa for many days and nights on the riverside of the Congo River. This dance is also said to be named after him (Cumfa/Kumfa). This dance/tradition was later brought to Guyana by African slaves and was practiced in the 1930s.  

Features

Connections With Africa

Connections With Africa

 This is a form of dance that is said to initiate spirit possession in humans, which is brought about by the rhythmic beating of African drums. The people taking part in this do abnormal and extreme actions. Some of these actions include pushing wood set on fire into their mouths, celebrating on broken bottles, and even jumping in trenches. After the ceremony ends and people are no longer possessed, the participants are unharmed and often have no memory of the events that took place. 

Connections With Africa

Connections With Africa

Connections With Africa

 As this is a dance and tradition that is native to West Africa and it was also brought to Guyana by African slaves, many of these African traditions can be seen in the practice of this event. They use African drums and rhythms in order to get the possession to take place. They also use traditions from African traditions and rituals in this ceremony. Another relation is that there are ceremonies that are very similar that are practiced in Africa, such as orisha worship, where they use drumming of the bata drums to get possession to take place.  

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