Upward Spirit II (Tanzania, Zanzibar)

Among the Maasai, singing does not precede gesture: it already contains it. These sustained voices, punctuated by variations and low harmonies, constitute a form of continuous-breath polyphony , transmitted without a score, only by listening and mimicry. It is not a religious song, nor an aesthetic performance: it is a ritual language. It structures gatherings, forges physical endurance and strengthens group solidarity. By placing themselves in a circle, the young moran activate a symbolic space, where every timbre counts, where the voice becomes a pillar of collective identity.