African Music

African Music: Overview

African music is incredibly diverse, reflecting the continent’s numerous cultures, tribes and regions.
It plays a central role in everyday life and societal happenings, such as weddings, funerals, and ceremonies.
The music is largely communal, with performances often involving a group.
African music is characteristically polyrhythmic, featuring overlapping and contrasting rhythms.

Instruments

Traditional African instruments include drums (like the djembe), string instruments (such as the kora), and wind instruments (like the balafon).
Percussion is particularly crucial in African music, frequently providing the music’s rhythmic foundation.
Instruments are commonly handmade from locally sourced materials such as animal skin, gourd and bamboo.

Vocal Techniques

African music prominently features vocal music, which can range from solo performances to full choirs.
Singing styles often include call and response format, where a soloist sings a line and the rest of the group responds.
Vocals are frequently highly ornamented and may include yodels, hums, ululations and shouts.

Dance

In African cultures, dance is inseparably connected to music. Many songs are intended to accompany specific dance moves.
Performance often involves both the musicians and the audience in this communal expression.

Role of Music in African Societies

Music serves many functions in African societies beyond pure entertainment. It plays a crucial role in oral history, as stories, morals, and historical events are passed down through songs.
Individuals often use music to express individual and community identity, marking elements such as tribe, age group, and social status.
Music often has a strong spiritual component, used as part of religious ceremonies and to connect communities with their ancestors.

African Music Influence

Modern music, such as blues, jazz, rock and hip hop, are heavily influenced by African musical traditions.
This influence stems from the African diaspora as a consequence of the Atlantic slave trade, which spread African rhythms, melodies, and instruments to the Americas.