MUSIC OF AFRICA
MUSIC
OF
AFRICA
African traditional music is
largely function in nature,
used primarily in
ceremonial rites.
AFROBEAT
• “Afro” = derives from Afrika,
“Beat”=genre’s emphasis on rhythms.
• Coined by a Nigerian musician Fela Kuti
in the late 1960’s.
• It is a term used to describe the fusion of
West African with black American music.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AFROBEAT
• Polyrhythms- complex, layered rhythms.
• Horns and Percussion- use of drums, horns, and percussion.
• Call-and-response- vocal patterns in inspired by traditional Yoruba Music.
• Social commentary- lyrics often address social issues, politics, and
cultural heritage.
APALA (AKPALA or AKAN)
• Originated in the 1930’s among the Yoruba people of southeast
Nigeria.
• used to wake up the worshippers after fasting during the Muslim
holy feast of Ramadan.
• Reflects Yoruba culture and traditions.
CHARACTERISTICS APALA (AKPALA or AKAN)
• Slow tempo- soothing rhythms helped worshippers gradually wake up.
• Spiritual lyrics- song often contained Islamic themes, prayers, and
supplications.
• Incorporates traditional instruments- Talking drums, agidigbo, and
shekere accompanied by vocal performances.
AXE
• It is a popular musical genre from Salvador, Bahia, and
Brazil in the 1980’s
• It fuses the Afro- Caribbean styles of the marcha, reggae,
and calypso, and is played by carnival bands.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AXE
• Upbeat tempo- fast-paced rhythms ideal for dancing.
• Incorporates traditional instruments like surdo, Caixa, and
agogo.
• Call-and –response- vocalist engage with the audience,
energetic and expressive singing.
JIT
• traditional Zimbabwean music genre.
• A hard and fast percussive Zimbabwean dance music played on drums
with guitar accompaniment, influenced by mbira-based guitar styles.
CHARACTERICTICS OFJIT
• Upbeat tempo- Fast- paced rhythms
• Polyrhythms- complex, layered drumming patterns
• Incorporates mbira (thumb piano)
• Focuses on social issues, love, and cultural heritage.
• Djembe, hosko(shaker instruments), and marimba.
JIVE
• Genre of energetic and lively music originated from South Africa.
• featuring a lively and uninhibited variation of the jitterbug (a form
of swing dance)
• Incorporates traditional South African styles like Kwela and
Mbube.
CHARACTERISTICS OF JIVE
• Upbeat tempo- Fast- paced rhythms
• Electric instrumentation- Guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums.
• Bouncy movements- quick footwork, kicks, and flircks.
• Kick-ball-change movement.
JUJU
• This musical style is emerge in 1930’s and became popular during
1960’s and 1970’s.
• A popular music style from Nigeria that relies on the traditional
Yoruba rhythms,where the instruments are more Western in origin.
CHARACTERISTICS OF JUJU
• Fusion of styles: Blends Yoruba folk music, Fuji, Apala, and Western influences.
• Perfusion instrumentation: Incorporates traditional instruments like talking
drums, shekere, and agidigbo.
• Polyrhythms: Complex, layered rhythms.
• Call-and-response vocals: Harmonized singing with lead vocalist and chorus.
• Social commentary: Lyrics often address social issues, politics, and cultural
values.
KWASSA - KWASSA
• 1980s emergence: Kwassa kwassa originated in the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
• Popularized by Koffi Olomidé: Olomidé's 1986 album "Kwassa Kwassa"
popularized the genre.
• Influence of Western music: Incorporation of Western styles like funk and
disco.
CHARACTERISTICS OF KWASSA – KWASSA
1. Upbeat tempo: Fast-paced rhythms (120-150 BPM).
2. Catchy melodies: Simple, memorable harmonies.
3. African rhythms: Incorporates traditional Congolese styles like rumba and
soukous.
4. Electric instrumentation: Guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums.
5. Simple harmonies: Focus on rhythm and melody
MARABI
A South African three- chord township music of the 1930s-
1960s which evolved into African Jazz.
Second
Quarter Quiz
Question Number 1
It is a dance style
begun in Zaire in the
late 1980’s,
popularized by Kanda
Bongo Man.
Question Number 2
A South African
three- chord
township music of
the 1930s-1960s
which evolved into
African Jazz.
Question Number 3
A hard and fast percussive
Zimbabwean dance music
played on drums with
guitar accompaniment,
influenced by mbira-based
guitar styles
Question Number 4
It is known as the
“talking drum or
squeeze drum”
Question Number 5
It is a rich and
diverse cultural
heritage that exists
in hundreds of
different languages
Question Number 6
It is a musical genre from
Nigeria in the Yoruba Tribal
Style, used to wake up the
worshippers after fasting
during the Muslim holy feast
of Ramadan.
Question Number 7
A popular music style from
Nigeria that relies on the
traditional Yoruba rhythms,
where the instruments are
more Western in origin.
Question Number 8
It is described as the
fusion of West
African and Black
American music.
Question Number 9
It is popular from
South African Music
featuring a lively and
uninhibited variation
of the jitterbug
Question Number 10
It is a popular musical genre
from Salvador, Bahia, and
Brazil. It fuses the Afro-
Caribbean styles of the
marcha, reggae, and calypso,
and is played by carnival
