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In addition to have a large population according to
Countryaah, Africa is a continent with rich and diverse music traditions. Music
originating in Africa has had a fundamental impact on the historical development
of the most important genres in international popular music,
from blues and jazz to pop, rock and hip hop.
The term "African music" is commonly used to refer to traditional music and
local forms of popular music in sub- Saharan Africa. In North
Africa, music dominates the influence of Arab culture, which is not mentioned
here.
Traditional music
Some musical characteristics are widely used in music traditions in
sub-Saharan Africa. Features that are often emphasized as African are:
- rhythmic complexity in the form of complementary rhythms and polyrhythmics
- music organized on the basis of repetition of short melodic or
rhythmic motifs
- alternation song- alternation between a lead singer (soloist) and group
In addition, the central function of music is often emphasized in social
and ritual contexts, and the close connection to physical activity, such
as dance music and work songs.
Instruments and forms of music
The historical evolution of music traditions in Africa is influenced by
cultural contact between peoples
through migration, trade, colonization and mission. The influence of Arabic
music is considerable in West Africa, the Sahel region and along the coast
of East Africa. In the former British colonies there is a significant influence
of European ecclesiastical song. Trading routes across the ocean contributed to
the development of new hybrid music genres in Africa. Taarab in Tanzania is
influenced by Indian music and the morna genre on Cape Verde Islands are based
on Portuguese fado. The string instrument valiha came across
the sea from Indonesia to Madagascar where it is now considered a
national instrument.
In African music traditions we find many distinctive instruments and musical
expressions. Drums are available in myriad sizes and designs. The original West
African djemben has become a popular instrument of international spread. Drum
music with a very complex polyrhythmic music can be found in the ewe groups in Ghana and wolof in Senegal and Gambia. Balafon and
other xylophone instruments are found in many editions across much of the
continent. The same is true of the many variants of lamellophones ( mbira, sanza). Korais
the big harp to the grotesques in the mandinka tradition, with
a virtuoso playing technique. Otherwise, there are many varieties of stringed
instruments, horns, whistles, lute instruments, harps, lyres, music loops and
various percussion instruments.
The song in most African music traditions is monophonic, often structured as
an alternate song. Polyphonic traditions can be found among the people groups san in Kalahari and shona in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Aka and
other folk groups in Central Africa have a special polyphonic vocal music based
on vocal sounds. In several countries there are popular
short traditions with multi-voice singing based on European ecclesiastical chant
and local music traditions, such as the isicathamiya song in the Zulu culture
in South Africa.
Several African music traditions are cultivated today in Latin America, more
or less altered or reshaped in encounters with other music. Among the music
cultures with the strongest traditional African features
are capoeira in Brazil, candombe in Uruguay and yoruba music in Cuba. The
African influence has otherwise been fundamental in the development of
modern Latin American music. Rhythm instruments in samba (agogo, reco-reco,
chocallo) and salsa (congas, bongos, maracas,guiro) all originate from Africa.
Populous music
Urban African popular music is often based on traditional rhythms and
instruments, along with influences from Western popular music and
African-American music. Chimurenga -Music in Zimbabwe, which played a
significant role in the struggle against apartheid, adopted mbiraens rhythms of
modern band instruments. Mbalax in Senegal and The Gambia is a modern popular
music based on the rhythms of the sabar drums. Congolese rumba and soukous are
based on Caribbean genres. Marrabenta in Mozambique is a fusion of Western
popular music, Portuguese song and local rhythms. In the 1960s and beyond, the
popular genre came afrobeat, based on a fusion between big band music and local
rhythms from Nigeria. Afrobeats (with s) is based on recent international
popular music such as hip hop and R&B. This genre was developed in
Nigeria, Ghana and London from the 2000s and has reached a wide international
audience.
Other popular African music includes genres such as afro-jazz, jive,
kwela, highlife and juju.
Artists
A number of singers and musicians from African countries have achieved great
international recognition. Stella Chiweshe and Toumani Diabaté have brought the
mbira and choir to an international audience respectively. Hugh Masekela was a
prominent jazz trumpet player. Some of the best known in popular music
are Miriam Makeba, Manu Dibango, King Sunny Ade, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his
son Femi Kuti, Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure, Youssou N'Dour, Angélique
Kidjo, Wizkid and Baaba Maal.
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