The African drum (called the heart of the community) is the most significant instrument as it reflects people's moods and emotions, and its rhythm holds dancers together. Throughout Africa, there are four distinct categories of musical instruments: drums, wind, self-sounding and string instruments. Hand claps, foot stamps and thigh or chest slaps are also common. The human body itself is often used as a tapping instrument. It is impractical to separate music from dance or from bodily movement. Here are some of the popular dance styles in Africa. Dance has many forms of expression, storytelling and enjoyment across the continent, and alongside traditional dances. One of the most familiar sounds is the ululation, a wailing or high cry formed with the mouth and tongue that changes between two or three notes, and is used to show emotion at a ceremony.Īfrican music also combines aspects of dancing and playing instruments that are interwoven into the fabric of life. Several different patterns are played at the same time and repeated over and over. Rhythm and percussive sounds are highly emphasised in African music. The pitch level of the sound determines significance in many African languages, while the melodies and rhythms of the music usually form the song texts. Traditional African music is often collaborative and requires coordinated cooperation, in which participants belong to “constituencies” that are not similar but complementary. Singers will sometimes whisper, hum, grunt, yodel, shout and even imitate animal noises. Within a single performance, a singer may shift from an open, relaxed tone to one that is tighter and more constricted. As a result, music is often performed outdoors, in the streets, courtyards or village squares.Īfrican singers use a wide variety of sounds. There are songs of praise and criticism, and songs recounting history. There are work songs that accompany digging, chopping and harvesting. Many events of importance are celebrated with music, whether it is a marriage, a birth, or a ceremonial rite of passage. Music highlights African values, with various traditions accompanied by a melody. In Africa, music is a social activity in which almost everyone participates. Since the beginning of time, music and dancing have played a vital role in people's ability to communicate, and celebrate events, with an array of sounds announcing important ceremonies.
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