ESKISTA - The shoulder-shaking traditional Ethiopian dance

Eskista means “dancing shoulders” and is performed with head, neck, chest and shoulders shaking in specific ways.  Dancers are dressed in traditional attire from the indigenous tribes of the Northern parts of Ethiopia i.e. Amhara, Wollo, Gondar etc. Today Eskista is still performed and has also manifested itself in modern culture such as the Harlem Shake and in Beyonce's video 'Who run the world (girls)'.  Eskista is one of the more popular dances synonymous with Ethiopia.

I lost my eskista-watching virginity in 2007 in a traditional Ethiopian restaurant in Addis Ababa (the capital city of Ethiopia) on my first visit to Ethiopia. 

Watch Eskista

Not a stranger to dance, this style of dance was so different to anything I had ever seen; powerful, animalistic, raw, exciting, visually heart-pounding and not to mention extremely hard to do!  Furthermore, the accompanying music transfixed me and transported me to my happy place, somewhere out in Africa's tribal wilderness; in this case Ethiopia's Amhara region.  I had never witnessed anything so sensually extraordinary.  

Ethnic regions of Ethiopia, Amhara region in light green
the region in which eskista has it's roots

As a dancer, for me, when I watch such powerful and unique dances such as Eskista, it makes me wonder of the origins.  How did it come to be?  What is the intention behind the movements and what ideas is the dance trying to convey? Which qualities of cultural history e.g heritage, events, environment, ancient stories, customs and rituals, religious beliefs, ideas, emotions and thoughts; interweave to manifest a particular style of dance?   

Ethiopia is a widely diverse country with over 80 different rich ethnic, customs, cultural and linguistic groups and over 150 unique dance movements across her regions.  The music and dances are dating 3000 years back in the African history. To delve into Ethiopia's dance ancestral lineage and evolution piques my curiosity.


Some of Eskista's influences are (and not limited to):

• Orthodox Christian and Muslim motives play the role of shaping the culture and traditions of this ancient nation. 
• Typical body movements performed mainly with the head and shoulders to express certain emotions and impressions from life dating back to the people of Ethiopia's Amhara tribe.
• Relationships between genders, hence love songs; the variety of war songs, hunting songs, shepherd songs, and work songs all have a collective influence on Eskista's  movements.
• There is one theory of how Eskista was inspired by snakes.  Ethiopian people often observed the movements/"dances" of the snake, the way they would shake their neck.  Additionally, it is said that the sound the rattlesnake produces when it shakes it's tail had an influence on Ethiopian music and the style of singing.
• The music played during the dance is often produced with traditional Ethiopian instruments like krar, flute, drums and mesenko - which to some extent play an influence over the dance.

• The different areas in Amhara i.e. Wollo, Gondar or Gojjam shows some variations on the dance.
• Expressing religious rituals in the Ethiopian and Jewish deep cultural roots.

Eskista's manifestation in modern culture:

• Beyonce - Who run the world (girls) video clip

At the beginning of superstar Beyonce's 'Who run the World (girls)" video she makes an Eskista-like dance, hands on her hips and shaking her shoulders, which looks unbearingly similar to the shoulder shaking of the Eskista.  

Beyonce visited Ethiopia in 2007 and performed a concert to bring in Ethiopia's New Millennium.  Who knows...perhaps she was inspired by the Eskista on her visit!  
Check it out for yourself Beyonce's Eskista Inspiration

• The Harlem Shake

According to sources, the 'Harlem Shake' dance originating in 1981 in the streets of Harlem, New York, by a resident called "Al B" has it's foundation in the Eskista. Watch Harlem Shake

One of the best ways to experience the Eskista first-hand is at an Ethiopian wedding!  Everyone is in a celebratory mood, and everyone lets loose!!  Watch out as one-on-one spontaneous Eskista battles usually ensue and it's utterly enthralling.








Dance is a universal language and a wonderful medium of preserving heritage and culture that resonates with all generations.  The next time you get down for a boogie or participate in your weekly dance class, take a moment to think, what are the origins of this dance?

One will never fully apprehend the exact context to the evolution of the Eskista without the impossible realm of having paid witness to the ancient times to present.  One can hope to gain a firm grasp of Eskista's roots by visiting the Amhara region and talking to the people, elders in particular, and witnessing the culture firsthand; and/or by obtaining a deep understanding of the history and customs of the region.