African Music Fact Sheet

African Music Fact SheetIn Africa music is a vital part of everyday life. Songs are used for all the important events in a persons life. It is part of religious ceremonies, festivals, social rituals, births, marriages, gathering of chiefs and deaths. Often the music is combined at these occasions with speech, dancing and vibrant costumes to produce really exciting and dramatic performances in which everyone takes part.

Many Africans believe that music is a link with the spirit world or a direct link to the Gods (deities). They also use music for curing the sick and bringing rain.

Q: What would you say music is?

In Africa clapping hands and stomping feet is a popular way of making music. They may also add many drums or flutes and lots of voices.

Q: Would you call this music? Yes/No BecauseMusic is greatly varied across the African continent. Sub-Saharan Africa covers more than 50 nations, each with its own traditions. Groups in Southern African deserts have very simple songs.

People in the Congo River Basin have more complicated singing and instrumental music.

East Africans specialize in music played on xylophones.

West coast tribes have made the art of drum playing a highly developed skill.

Common characteristics of African Music

Melodies are short and simplehttp://alternativeculture.com/audio/BlackRockDive.mp3 It uses short bits of melody and repeats them over and over. Repetitionhttp://alternativeculture.com/audio/Kuku.mp3 Improvisation when one person in a group may begin to make up a special version of the melody while the other performers continue with the original melody.

Polyphony when 2 or more parts each having a melody line are heard together creating a multi layered texture.

Call and Response - when a solo (Call) followed by a group answering with a phrase (response).The music falls into 3 categories:

Drumming

Choral Song (tribal music)

Instrumental Music (includes xylophone, mbira and kora music)

Now try completing the African Music Quiz 1 to see how much you know!!!!!!