Koroso

Origin and history: Koroso is one of the best-known traditional dances of northern Nigeria, associated above all with Kano State and the Hausa and Fulani peoples. It predates the 19th-century Sokoto Caliphate, when it featured prominently in tribal festivities during the harmattan — the dry, dusty season that closes the annual cycle — as communities gathered to celebrate the coming year.

Cultural and social context: Today Koroso is a celebrated folk and social dance performed at important occasions such as emir turbaning ceremonies, marriages and cultural festivals; it is showcased for visitors at institutions such as Kano's historic 15th-century Gidan Makama Museum.

Character and feel: The dance is festive, exuberant and openly competitive, demanding strong, energetic youths.

Technique and movement: Performed in pairs, dancers use every part of the body to form near-impossible shapes while striving to outdo one another, with strong emphasis on uniformity, precision and stamina.

Music and costume: The name Koroso also refers to the rattling beads worn around the dancers' legs, which supply percussion; performance is accompanied by the sarewa (a traditional flute) and drumming, and dancers wear colourful multi-coloured beads, bracelets and anklets.