1) Where are your Zulu Drummers and Zulu Dancers from?
ANSWER: South Africa. Our performers are entirely authentic. If, for whatever reason, we are unable to secure genuine Zulu artists, we will of course, forewarn any clients. Many of our clients are South African themselves and quite rightly require 100% authenticity!
2) How long is your Zulu drummers' and Zulu dancers' performance?
ANSWER: A 30 minute cabaret/floor show is a common request. But sometimes a client might require multiple shorter sets for a drinks reception. Alternatively, a dramatic 10 minute parading entrance is sometimes the requirement for a corporate event. It really does depend on how much ‘impact’ you’d like at your event. Often the shorter performances have greater impact, because an audience’s interest always wanes eventually. This is true irrespective of how good any performance is!
3) Are your Zulu drummers & dancers both men and women?
Generally, yes- but there are far more male performers than there are female performers in the UK. However, if you specify a gender preference we will always do our best to satisfy your requests.
4) Can I book just one Zulu performer?
ANSWER: Yes, but your show will be a small one with plenty of audience participation, however. We normally recommend that you book at least 3 performers.
5) Do the dancers always wear traditional Zulu costumes?
ANSWER: Yes, but there are many costumes that are traditional and it’s best you specify a costume. This is best done from the images we can share with you.
6) Do they dance to backing tracks and do your Zulu drummers and dancers sing too?
ANSWER: For a traditional African dance of any kind to remain authentic it needs live African drumming to accompany it, ideally. Furthermore, yes these groups do sing, but it's not on the same level as a specialist Zulu choral performance from a Zulu choir.
7) What is the ideal number of dancers and drummers to have for my party?
ANSWER: It's best to assess the ‘ideal’ number from the size of your party, staging area and, of course, budget.
8) Does the famous ‘Gumboot dance’ come as an extra?
ANSWER: It can do- or it can be incorporated into a larger show. We advise that you don't have it as the main part of a Zulu drumming and Zulu dancing show, however.
9) Is there any audience participation?
ANSWER: In a word ‘always’! Every performance from our Zulu drummers and dancers is interactive. This is because they always invite audience members up to learn a few dance moves. Which is always a lot of fun for the rest of the audience too! Drumming requires more precise instruction and can only be done in drum workshops which are also available at any event.
10) Can they play other instruments apart from drums?
ANSWER: Yes, but these are normally part of non-traditional performances and there are far more bands from North and West Africa in the UK playing traditional instruments like the balafon, mbira, kora as well as the djembe alongside instruments that are more familiar to UK audiences like guitars, keyboards and drum kits. WAHA is a band whose initials stand for West African Hi-life & Afrobeat which defines the music and the origins of their personnel who are principally from Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. If you’d like to have your dance floor filled by a band that plays great energetic authentic African music using traditional Africa instruments alongside Western ones, this group would be the ideal choice. Please witness them in action here.