Village Discos and the “Heshimu Ukuta” Tag

 In the 1980s/90s village discos were extremely popular, especially in many rural areas of Kenya. In Many Kalenjin counties, these vibrant social events were referred to as Tansi (dance). They brought together local youth, particularly during holidays and typically took place at night in someone's home or an outdoor area, featuring music, dance, and a sense of camaraderie among participants.

Girls from other villages were often invited by boys, and it was important for the girls to be accompanied by boys and brought back home safely by their parents. The boys who owned music record players were especially popular and attracted many girls.

How Tansi Worked

The boys would plan ahead and contribute money for refreshments like bread and tea to entertain the girls. They would then write invitation letters and distribute them to their friends or directly to the girls about a week before the Tansi. Attendance was by invite only, so not just anyone could come.

Every village had to bring their girls to the dance and make sure they were protected and taken back home safely before sunrise. On the day of the Tansi, boys, and girls would travel long distances to attend, carrying bed sheets on their shoulders and clubs to scare away dogs or potential rivals. At the entrance, a bouncer would read a list of attendees to make sure only the right people entered. If someone didn’t contribute money, they couldn’t enter unless they came with a girl or girls.

Inside the hall, the DJ, who owned the record player, had a special place to sit with some refreshments, including alcohol sometimes. Everyone waited for their turn to be called to the dance floor. When their turn came, they would go to the dance floor, show off their moves to attract girls and look for the girl they wanted to dance with.

The Dance Floor Rules

There was a rule that when you asked a girl to dance with you, you had to bow before her. The girl would then decide if she wanted to dance with you or not. If she agreed, she would stand up and dance with you. It was important to be gentle and respectful towards the girl. However, sometimes girls would refuse to dance with someone they didn’t like. If a girl refused, you had to move on to the next one until you found the one you wanted.

After each record selection or if two were specially requested, the grand master would shout, “Heshimu ukuta mara moja,” which means everyone had to move away from the dance floor and lean against the wall. Only ladies, the organizers, and the person with the record player were allowed to sit on chairs.

At around 11pm and 4am, there would be a 30-minute break for tea to be served, and each girl would receive two slices of bread.