SOURCE : Kongo Religion in Jamaica : Kumina
Kumina, otherwise known as kalunga or kaduunga, features flat-footed inching of the feet (or the kongo step), a steady, but often subtle, forward-thrusting of the hip with the rib cage and arms moving against the hip, followed by wild spins and sudden breaks, signalled by the lead drum. The dominant elements of kumina are dance, music, spirit possession, healing and the use of herbs…
There is a male and female leader. The leaders must be able to control the zombies, or spirits, and assume their positions of leadership after careful training in their feeding habits, ritual procedures, dances, rhythms and songs of a variety of spirits, conducted by a previous king or ‘captain’ and queen or ‘mother’….
Kumina dancers… have to learn the African language used. For example, ‘malambay’ means ‘how do you do’; if you want some food, you say ‘madya’; and, if you are ready to sing and dance, you say ‘mambugumaseta’.
