African Dance Style (Zaouli) | The Most Impossible Dance in the World Explained

Zaouli is a popular mask dance created by Gouros in the fifties. Legends at the origin of the Zaouli mask and dance are diverse, but all say that they were inspired by a very beautiful girl

The Zaouli dance is a seductive dance and is performed by a masked character. The Zaouli mask is brightly colored and is said to represent a woman who appears in the legend of a sacred forest.

Each Zaouli mask can take as long as six days to carve. Made of Yaranza wood, the process is secretive, each artisan using their own approach. When the dance happens the dance is fast and furious, the masked man churning up dust beneath his feet. Provoked to keep up the pace by his dance partner, it's a superhuman effort guided by the spirits.