Evolution of a Mozambican dance party

The last 2 weekends, I thought I’d get “more culture” by visiting some Mozambican dance parties – one in Maputo, and one here.

Some strange facts about these dance parties …

• In Mozambique, dance parties are completely dead until about 1am. Even at midnight, they are deserted, and look very sad. But at 1am, people start streaming in, peaking at around 3am. Even at 4am, people are still walking in! (I don’t know what people do the entire night before 1am – maybe sleeping in anticipation?!)
• There is a great appetite for techno/boppy versions of Western 80s and 90s songs. My favourite from last night? “The look” by Roxette. Also note that Kenny G can be remixed to make dance music! (He is an amazing man, though … how can one man have so much talent?)
• Whilst there is a specific “dance floor”, Mozambicans (and probably Africans in general) are used to dancing anywhere, even if there’s no one else around them. If they’re queuing in the line for drinks, or walking to the bathroom, you’ll often see them jiggy-ing to the music …!

However, Mozambican dance parties have plenty in common with dance parties from other parts of the world …

• When the slow songs come on, just about everyone leaves the dance floor
• The music is so loud that it’s pretty hard to have a proper conversation, meaning that you either dance or sit at your seat sending SMSes
• The entry prices are pretty high – between 2-4 times the daily wage of most Mozambicans! (which, because of the high unemployment rate, is in turn twice the size of the average daily per capita earnings …)

Party on,
john

(it was a bit dark to photos at the dance party - but here's some women dancing in another part of mozambique - the guys in the middle beat the drums, whilst the women, um, dance!)