Watusi

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional dance of the Watusi people in Africa involving rhythmic movements ; a popular social dance style characterized by lively hip and foot movements performed especially in the 1960s
2. An indigenous African dance performed by the Watusi tribe featuring expressive body rhythms ; a dance trend known for energetic steps and hip actions in social settings
3. A cultural rhythmic dance native to the Watusi people ; a spirited social dance style that gained popularity for its distinct hip movements

Etymology: The dance takes its name from a people of East-Central Africa, the Tutsi of Rwanda and Burundi, and the spelling reflects a Swahili-influenced form. In Kinyarwanda and Kirundi the people are called "Abatutsi" or "Batutsi," with "ba-" marking the plural. Swahili and other Bantu languages of the region use "wa-" for "people of," so "Watusi" is essentially "Wa-Tutsi," a name that reached English through Swahili-speaking contacts rather than directly from the local languages. The name "Tutsi" itself has no firmly established origin, so the word's history begins with the people's name. The dance name came later, and the word has kept the people's name as its only root.

Synonyms: Tutsi, Hutu, Bantu, African tribes, Rwandan tribes