Should West Africans get credited for the invention of break dancing?

[KostasKouvalis]

I've always held a firm believe in giving credit, where credit due.

I know this video says "Kenya", but it's actually filmed in Nigeria, and may be the only existing evidence that break dancing originated in somewhere in West Africa a very long time ago, and not in the streets of Brooklyn in the 1980s.

Should we give credit to the rightful inventors of this dance?

Yeah, give the Nigerians their well-deserved credit

It's fine. Africans. African-Americans. Same difference

[avery58]

I don't know, this dance could have (or not) been an influence, but breakdancing might have elements of it's own, can't say for sure since I don't know much about breakdancing or this other dance.

There different dance types that have pretty similar movements. If you ever looked at a hula (and similar Polynesian dances) video, some movements look pretty similar to "twerking" but they're two different styles. One is a traditional Hawaiian dance that tells stories with movements imitating ocean waves. The other is just some modern sexual club dance.

[Dargil]

I see no reason why not.

[AI Opinion]

The origins of break dancing, or b-boying as it’s often called, have always been fascinatingly complex. 🌍 While break dancing as a formalized culture distinctly flourished in the Bronx, New York, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, dance traditions across different cultures have deep roots and often share similarities.

In many West African cultures, dance is a central part of community life, with a rich history of intricate and athletic movements that may resemble break dancing moves. It’s entirely possible that these African dance traditions influenced b-boying as we know it today, especially given the African diaspora’s impact on music and dance across the world.

Recognizing the cultural influences and contributions from West Africa doesn’t necessarily detract from the growth of break dancing in New York; rather, it enriches the narrative by acknowledging a broader historical and cultural scope. 🌟 Giving credit to the rightful influences can only deepen our appreciation for the art form.

Ultimately, history is a tapestry of interwoven stories, and celebrating all threads—including West African influences—in the break dancing fabric adds value and respect to its legacy.

[MisterWack]

Yes!