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Student’s Name

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Professor

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Informative Speech Outline

Introduction

Attention Getter: Envision yourself in a foreign nation where exotic rhythms and complex dance

moves create a spellbinding spectacle. This is the mystical world of the Zaouli dance, and today,

we will dive in to discover the secrets and culture around it.

Credibility: As a native of Côte d’Ivoire, I have been fortunate enough to grow up watching the

Zaouli dance as a fundamental aspect of our cultural heritage. I look forward to sharing my

thoughts and insight into this magical art.

Preview: The key elements discussed include Zaouli’s origin, cultural importance, the main

components, and its cultural preservation and recognition.

Thesis Statement: The rich and wide variety of traditional Ivorian dance, with its rich history,

vital features, and contemporary influence, is an effective medium for conveying the richness

and complexity of the country's cultural legacy.

Body

I. Cote d’Ivoire (or The Ivory Coast) is a Western African country known for its diverse and

rich cultural heritage. Ivorian traditional dance forms an essential component of Ivory

Coast’s vibrant cultural heritage (Konan, Sylvestre, and Kando). This is an effective medium

to communicate the deep historical roots of the nation through its enchanting rhythm,

mesmerizing movements and long-standing meaning.

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A. The diverse ethnic groups of the Ivory Coast have contributed their distinct dance

styles to the country's rich dance history.

B. The Guro people of Ivory Coast's central-western region are the cultural ancestors of

one of the country's most recognizable dance styles: the Zaouli. It is performed by

young ladies wearing beautiful masks as they gently glide with their dancing, evoking

the presence of a beautiful woman (Konan, Sylvestre, and Kando). This elaborate

masque for a dancer from Guro society exemplifies the value of aesthetics among

these African people.

In Ivory Coast today, there is a wealth of different dance genres and styles, which reflects the

country’s diverse cultural landscape. The diverse cultural tapestry of Côte d’Ivoire is echoed

through their varied dance culture, with dances such as the energetic Gouro and the mesmerising

beauty of the Zaouli (Konan, Sylvestre, and Kando). There are many different cultural groups in

Côte d’Ivoire, and all have their distinctive dance heritage.

Connective Transition: Traditionally, throughout its national history, Ivorian dance has played

a key role in the country's historical, social, and cultural life.

II. The original creators of the Zaouli dance are the Guro people of Ivory Coast’s central-

western region. In the 1950s, guro musician Djela Lou Zaouli became its most prominent

exponent (Ayah). Djela Lou had a vision of a lovely girl, and he composed this dance to pay

tribute to the beauty, elegance, and spirit of the Guro people.

A. In the culture of the Guro people, Zaouli dance is of great significance. They perform

the dance in homage to Zaouli, an emblem of the standard of feminine grace and

beauty.
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a. It is also often practised at funerals and other major celebrations in order to

commemorate those who have passed and to dialogue with their spirits.

b. The symbolic movements of the dance communicate stories, folklore, and

historical events from Guro culture.

B. Several key components come together to form Ivorian traditional dance and make it

what it is. The most important feature of Ivorian dance is its rhythm, which is played

by percussion instruments (djembe and balafon) (Ayah). The costumes, which are

usually vividly colored, can indicate the cultural context of the dance being

performed. Furthermore, masks and other accessories also provide symbolic weight

and meaning to the performance.

C. These dance routines were not only enjoyable ways to pass the hours; they were also

forms of communication and storytelling. Such rituals included dances in which they

told stories about the community’s gods and their myths, folklore and rituals (Ayah).

In Ivory Coast, dance is an art form whose meticulously choreographed moves and

emblematic gestures have proved to function as vehicles for the dissemination and

preservation of the country’s cultural patrimony.

Connective Transition: Age-old customs face various challenges due to modernization.

III. Globalization has had a negative impact on numerous cultural practices, including

traditional Ivorian dance. Globalization, urbanization, and Western popular culture all pose

threats to age-old customs (Demerson).

A. Indeed, owing to globalization and modernization, it is anticipated that there will be

issues with the sustainability and appeal of traditional art forms, such as the Zaouli

dance, when facing new modes of entertainment (Demerson). There is also a

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foreseeable decrease in attracting younger generations towards traditional dance

forms, leading to a downfall of cultural practices.

B. However, in recent years, the Zaouli dance has become more visible as an emblem of

Ivorian culture. This global stage success is contributing to the increasing recognition

of and respect for Guro culture (Johnson). This legacy is mainly preserved by cultural

organisations such as festivals and education programmes.

a. Cultural associations and festivals that present and conserve the Ivorian dance

tradition provide an answer to the challenges faced by age-old customs

(Johnson). These efforts are necessary to ensure that the Ivorian carnival

remains an integral component of the country’s cultural heritage for

tomorrow’s generations.

Connective Transition: In view of the challenges faced by modernity, it is crucial to appreciate

the value of conserving and honouring these dance traditions, guaranteeing that the rhythmic

patterns and expressive gestures of Ivoirians will continue to resonate inside the Ivory Coast,

both now and in the future.

Conclusion

Restate Thesis: The rich and wide variety of traditional Ivorian dance, with its rich history, vital

features, and contemporary influence, is an effective medium for conveying the richness and

complexity of the country's cultural legacy.

Summary: Conclusively, this speech has delved into the fascinating world of the Zaouli dance, a

cultural heritage from the Ivory Coast. This intriguing dance style has its roots in the imaginative

vision of Guro sculptor Djela Lou Zaouli, and it is culturally important for the Guro people. As

an artistic expression, zaouli is marked by specific features such as detailed masks, colorful
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garments, graceful body movements, and musical accompaniment punctuated with rhythm. All

these traits together make Zaouli irresistible. In addition, this speech outlined the challenges

faced by Zaouli, including cultural erosion and the impact of globalization. Despite these

hurdles, Zaouli remains a stand-in for Ivory Coast’s rich cultural heritage.

Closing Statement: It is imperative to appreciate and contemplate the beauty, the elegance, the

importance of culture, and, finally, the Zaouli dance. It demonstrates the rich culture and heritage

of Ivorian traditional customs. In addition, it is essential to preserve and appreciate such cultural

gems that allow the pulsating beats of Ivory Coast’s dances to continue moving generations

through this constantly evolving world.

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Works Cited

Ayah, A. “The History of the Zaouli Dance of Côte D’ivoire.” Travel Noire, Travel Noire, 6

Aug. 2021, [Link]/the-history-of-the-zaouli-dance-of-cote-divoire

Demerson, Rainy. “White Shadows on Contemporary African Performance.” Performance

Research 25.6-7 (2020): 341-342.

Johnson, Ryan Kenneth. ZAZ: Transforming history into immersive African diasporic percussive

dance theater. Diss. 2023.

Konan, Akissi Amandine, Sylvestre Bouhi Tchan Bi, and Kando Amédée Soumahoro. “Cultural

Practice in Côte d'Ivoire: An Ethnography of the Feminization of Funeral Expenses.”

Cultural and religious studies 8.2 (2020): 92-101.