Hodi Dance Company from Mozambique

Erzenia Tamele, Vitcóia "Vick" Matangala, Manuel Manhica, and Nyles Cossa are professional artists from the Hodi Dance Company in Mozambique.

They carry on their ancestors' traditions and have been deeply rooted in rhythm and dance from a very early age. Today, they are among the leading artists in their dance company and are coming to Denmark as part of their European tour.

At the VITAL Festival, they will share Southern African wisdom through music, dance, workshops, and performances.

Workshop 1:
“Life is Rhythm”

In southern Africa, rhythm and dance are central elements of everyday life.
Rhythm accompanies people from the moment they wake up—in cooking, working, walking, celebrating, and mourning. It is not merely a means of self-expression, but a way to stay connected to life, the community, and oneself.

When we maintain the rhythm, we’re less likely to get carried away by our emotions or get stuck in difficult moments.
The rhythm helps us regulate ourselves, stay present, and move together.

Li will facilitate a conversation with Hodi Dance Company and Celso about Ubuntu, and about what it means to live in community and treat one another as brothers and sisters.
The conversation will be followed by playful, traditional dances from Mozambique, where everyone is invited to experience these principles through movement.

Workshop 2:
Traditional Mozambican dance

Traditional African dances often stem from everyday life.
The movements tell stories of cooking, harvesting, celebration, love, protection, and community. Every rhythm has a purpose, and every dance reflects a special relationship with life.

In this workshop, Manuel, Nyles, Erzénia, and Vick from the Hodi Dance Company will introduce a selection of traditional dances from Mozambique and invite participants to discover new ways to express themselves through rhythm, movement, and joy.

You don't need any dance experience—just curiosity and a desire to move.

Workshop 3:
Prayer to the Fire

Across indigenous cultures around the world, fire has been a sacred gathering place for millennia, where people come together to sing, dance, and offer their prayers.

This evening brings together traditions from Mozambique, Greenland, and Central America in a shared circle around the bonfire. The drums and the footsteps of our African dancers will bring the pulse of Africa to Langeland.

You are invited to bring your most vulnerable gift: the poem that has never been read aloud, the song that has never been sung, or the prayer that has quietly lived in your heart.
This is a space where your hidden voice can come to life—carried by the fire and the community.

Whether you choose to share or simply be a witness, you are warmly welcome to an evening of presence, courage, and connection.