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Culture of Giyani

Most residents of Giyani speak Xitsonga as their first language. The Tsonga women perform the xibelani dance' and called the dance Xigaza, the men enjoy mpuluto and makhwaya. The Tsonga people also engage in a custom dance called mchongolo. Xibelani is an African skirt designed to make the wearer's hips look bigger so that the hip movement during the xibelani dance can be more apparent. The Tsonga people have their own distinct music when the xibelani dance is performed. The staple diet in Giyani is maize porridge (vuswa or pap in Afrikaans and rice often eaten with meat, chicken and vegetables (matsavu).

"Giyani" is one of the tracks on the album "Third World Child" by Johnny Clegg and his band Savuka.