【非洲·马拉维】Tchopa，为纪念马拉维南部人民的祭祀舞蹈 Tchopa, sacrificial dance of the Lhomwe people of southern Malawi（2014年）

Tchopa是马拉维南部洛姆韦社区的一种表演艺术。这种舞蹈通常在丰收和成功狩猎后的庆祝活动中表演，以及在干旱和疾病暴发等灾难后向祖先的灵魂献祭时表演。Tchopa需要掌握特定的舞蹈技巧和歌唱知识，并使用三种不同大小的鼓。二十到三十名舞者在相互交叉时围成一圈表演。一些舞蹈演员背着包，里面装着农具、兽皮、木偶、狩猎用具和旧厨房用具。每个村长都有一小群跳卓巴舞的人。虽然Tchopa主要由年长的洛姆韦男女表演，他们作为承载者、练习者和主要监护人，但现在也越来越多地由儿童表演。舞蹈的知识和技能在练习和偶尔的表演中传递。该团体的其他关键角色包括舞蹈服装和鼓的制作者、鼓手、吹口哨者和舞者。Tchopa舞蹈增强了洛姆维社区之间的社会凝聚力，成员们在需要的时候提供相互支持，比如在健康不佳和丧亲之痛期间，并通过在现场提供社区劳动来帮助负担过重的从业者。

2014年度列入人类非物质文化遗产名录。

来源：联合国教科文组织亚太地区非物质文化遗产国际培训中心

Tchopa is a performing art practised among Lhomwe communities in southern Malawi. The dance is usually performed during celebrations after good harvests and successful hunting trips and during offerings to ancestral spirits after calamities such as droughts and outbreaks of disease. Tchopa entails knowledge of particular dancing skills and singing, and employs three different sizes of drums. Twenty to thirty dancers perform in a circle while criss-crossing each other. Some dancers carry packs on their backs holding farming tools, animal skins, puppets, hunting gear and old kitchen utensils. Each village headman has a small group of Tchopa dancers. Although primarily performed by older Lhomwe men and women, who function as the bearers and practitioners and principal custodians, Tchopa is now also increasingly performed by children. Knowledge and skills for the dance are transmitted during practice sessions and occasional performances. Other key roles among the group include the makers of dancing costumes and drums, drummers, whistlers and dancers. Tchopa dance strengthens social cohesion among Lhomwe communities with members providing mutual support in times of need, such as during ill health and bereavement, and coming to the assistance of overburdened practitioners by providing communal labour in the field.

Included in the list of human intangible cultural heritage in 2014.

Source: UNESCO International Training Center for intangible cultural heritage in the Asia Pacific Region