Music
and dance
The music of Africa is one of its most dynamic art forms. Egypt
has long been a cultural focus of the Arab world, while remembrance
of the rhythms of sub-Saharan Africa, in particular west Africa,
was transmitted through the Atlantic slave trade to modern samba,
blues, jazz, reggae, rap, and rock and roll. Modern music of the
continent includes the highly complex choral singing of southern
Africa and the dance rhythms of soukous, dominated by the music
of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recent developments include
the emergence of African hip hop, in particular a form from Senegal
blended with traditional mbalax, and Kwaito, a South African variant
of house music. Afrikaans music, also found in South Africa, is
idiosyncratic being composed mostly of traditional Boer music, while
more recent immigrant communities have introduced the music of their
homes to the continent. Indigenous musical and dance traditions
of Africa are maintained by oral traditions and they are distinct
from the music and dance styles of North Africa and Southern Africa.
Arab influences are visible in North African music and dance and
in Southern Africa western influences are apparent due to colonisation.
Many African languages are tone languages, in which pitch level
determines the meaning. This also finds expression in African musical
melodies and rhythms. A variety of musical instruments are used,
including drums (most widely used), bells, musical bow, lute, flute,
and trumpet.
African dances are important mode of communication and dancers use
gestures, masks, costumes, body painting and a number of visual
devices. With urbanisation and modernisation, modern African dance
and music exhibit influences assimilated from several other cultures. |
