Abstract des Autors

This study reflects mainly on the social stratification and the manipulation of participation in dance institutions by Venda women to exercise relative control in a male dominated society. The primary research techniques include participant observation, interviews, and film, video and music recordings. Approximately 350 formal and informal dance events were attended during a period of fieldwork that started in 1978 and lasted until 1992. This included a year of local residency. The analysis and contextualisation of dance events, dances, social behaviour and songs were undertaken from a performance ethnographical perspective. In Venda society an individual's social status is structured hierarchically on principles of patrilineal descent, kinship, marriage, age and gender. Venda women are protected and restricted by tradition. Women employ various strategies to counter their relative powerlessness. One of the streategies is to gain recognition and freedom from restrictions created by men, by being actively involved in dance institutions. They assume leadership as instructors (initiation dance institutions), to represent the chief (music and dance expeditions), and to become possessed by male spirits (possession dance institution). The power, respect, social status and political participation that is obtained through the dances is limited and does not bring any far-reaching change in the actual status of women in the Venda community. Within a feministic perspective, it illustrates means of resistance, and comment is made culturally on the discriminated role undertaken by means of collective participation in the dances. Verf.-Referat