Feared ritual dancers in Zimbabwe try to revamp public image

Gule Wamkulu dance secretive society members in gory masks and colorful outfits walk on the streets in Zimbabwe.(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Deep into the night, the sound of drums reverberated through the township of Mufakose in Zimbabwe's capital city. Barefoot dancers pulsated to the beat in colorful clothing and gory masks. Some had their faces and heads covered with poultry feathers.

In the past, the mere sight of members of the group performing the Gule Wamkulu ritual dance would have sent shivers down the spine of many outsiders. But on this night dozens of people, including young children, squeezed in for a closer look, their cellphones lighting up the spectacle.