Dancing Funga Alafia: A West African Welcome Dance with Nondi Wontanara

Teaching Artists Present...
www.kennedy-center.org/teachingartistspresent
Funga is a Liberian dance of hospitality that welcomes visitors to your home. Join performance art group Nondi Wontanara as they perform this West African tradition and provide instruction on how you can sing and move along. After learning these steps, make up your own movements to describe how you would open your space to a person you love.
Nondi Wontanara is a performance art group that started in Las Vegas in 2015. Nondi Wontanara is a phrase with Guinean origins and means “We are united in truth.” The group has been a part of the Las Vegas dance community for a combined total of 20 years. The dance and drum enthusiasts that makeup Nondi Wontanara came together to increase cultural awareness in the community through performing arts and multi-cultural dance forms.

[@hiimdominic3780]

I remember a group like this performed this song at my school when I was in elementary school in the 90s. Still can’t get this song out of my head and I’m 33 now!

[@susankennedy5739]

This is a lovely dance choreographed to go with this song, it is not a dance that was "traditionally" danced to this song -- especially because the African origins of Funga Alafia are debatable! But great dancing, drumming, and teaching!

[@MsShura]

That was fun and I love the learning involved. Movements have intentionality and that’s beautiful. You all did amazing😊

[@Snipperpics-ol6ni]

Loved it thank you

[@halimasaadat5310]

SLAYYYY😊

[@AfiSoul103]

I really love it thanksgiving

[@mwajumakitano842]

Thank you so very much🥰🤗🤩

[@ElenaToronja]

Yes, good teaching of individual parts but disappointing that the complete dance wasn’t demonstrated at the beginning or end.

[@stringsalive20]

Just want to be careful here. This song does not have origins in West Africa. It was written by LaRoque Bey in Harlem, and the tune is “Little Liza Jane.” Even the words are an amalgamation of African languages.

[@susankennedy5739]

I've seen this song all over the place, attributed to various African cultures over the last 35 years: the Hausa or Yoruba of Nigeria, from Sierra Leon, from Liberia... and now Harlem! Some think that Little Liza Jane came from the "African" song Funga Alafia! I believe the Harlem origin, and the fact that it has been so popular for decades in the US may be because it is much simpler than traditional African songs -- and it's pentatonic, easy to play! Thanks for giving the readers a heads up about the origin.

[@BLISB]

Alaafia and Ase’ are definitely Nigerian (Yoruba) words.

[@beverlybaillou1636]

ASHE! Olodumare'

[@AfiSoul103]

Fanga alafia ashe ashe jajajaaa

[@BLISB]

Adam-the only with a Jembe.😐

[@empresskhalilahismaiel9236]

Why oh why.