When The Spirits Dance, Identity Lives: An Inquiry on the Functional Role of Mwazindika Spirit Healing Dance in the Preservation of the Dawida Community in Kenya

Abstract

The Mwazindika spirit healing dance is more than a ritual; it’s a living expression of collective identity, spiritual and physical healing, cultural continuity, social cohesion and unity among the Dawida community. This study breaks away from rigid, linear, and non-participatory research models and places cultural values, local voices and lived experiences at the heart of the research process. It recognizes that communities like the Dawida understand and shape their world through deeply rooted traditions. By centering the voices of the Dawida community, the study explores the profound significance of the Mwazindika dance as a vital, meaningful practice that plays a crucial functional role in preserving the Dawida community’s identity. The dance is a core component of the Dawida healing processes, an instrument for communicating with the spirit world, and a means to celebrate milestones and reinforce communal bonds. The purpose of the paper is to show the need to safeguard and revitalise this tradition. Safeguarding Mwazindika is not just about preserving a cultural practice, it’s about nurturing the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of a people, ensuring their stories and heritage continue to thrive for future generations.