Introduction
African music is distinct and different with every region of the continent. Most of their music is passed down orally and not written. In addition, many of the languages that are spoken in Africa have a close connection with their music because the languages are all tonal languages. Their are many aspects that influenced their tribal music, including the environment, politics, and a variety of cultures. Each tribe in Africa has had their own problems, faced their own battles, and came in contact with different people. This all meshed together and formed music and tones that described their lives.
RWANDAThe main focus of Rwandan music is traditional folk music; however, it also includes contemporary East African Afrobeat, and Congolese ndombolo.
"Amatorero" dance groups are made to teach traditional music and dance. The Ballet National Urekerereza is the most famous Amatorero group and was "created to represent Rwanda in the 1970s in international events" (Gazemba) There is also a dance that tells stories of kings and heroes of Rwanda's past. It is called the ikinimba and is accompanied by instruments like ininigiri, ikembe, ingoma, and inanga (shown to the left). The inanga has been played by many famous Rwandan perfomers including Sebatunzi, Simparingoma, Kirusu, and Rujindiri. Ingeli, a famous group that spreads the Christian message of peace and reconciliation, won a Kora award for best traditional artist. They also won the "Most Inspiring Artist" back in 2003 because they helped raise money for the orphans in Rwanda. One of their singers, Cyprien Kagorora, is one of Rwanda's most recognized singers. Check out a video of Cyprien singing! |
BURUNDI
Burundi music and Rwandan music is similar in many ways. However,
the karyenda provides the biggest impact to the country. The karyenda is a traditional
African drum that symbolizes fertility and regeneration, but it has been the
main symbol of Burundi since 1962. The drum was on their national flag and also
on their coat of arms for four years. Traditionally, “the most important folk
songs and dances were performed to extol the virtues of the kingship” (Music in Burundi).
Another important drum was the rukinzo and that was carried around with Burundi’s kings wherever they went. Older families try to keep the folk songs associated to the drum a tradition. One group, called the Royal Drummers of Burundi, perform in ceremonies, funerals, and coronations of kings. Usually at the start of the Royal Drummers performance, “the drummers enter balancing the heavy drums on their heads and singing and playing" (Royal Drummers of Burundi). The drums are made out of tree trunks surrounded by animal skin. There is one main drum called the Inkiranya, and there is also a drum that provides the continuous beat called the Ibishikiso. Check out a video of the Burundi Drummers here! |
Democratic republic of congo (Zaire)Congo’s capital Kinshasa, has been a great
influence of musical modernization. Congo was created by different groups of
people and because of that, each group had their own music and dances until the
1940s. When World War II began, Latin music came from Cuba and began to
influence their African styles. They recreated the rumba and added their own
taste to it with different instruments. Feruzi is a popular musician who is
known to have made rumba more famous by being broadcasted on the Radio Congo
Belge.
African Jazz was formed in 1953, and that was the first full orchestra to perform, now known as the “father of modern Congolese music." Joseph Kabasele Tshamala founded African Jazz and included the band members Sam Mangwana, Simmaro Lutumba, and Tabu Ley Rochereau. “Independence Cha Cha” was their most popular song and, like most of their music, included Latin beats and rhythms, including the Cuban chachacha. This song became an anthem for independence and freedom. African Jazz was among the first to bring the modernization of African music to Brussels to be played at the Congolese Round Table Conference. Two incredibly famous bands to emerge in the 1970s were called Zaiko Langa Langa and Stukas. They competed each other to become the top soukous bands, however, Stukas was more popular because they primarily played in the suburbs and for those who could not afford to attend their performances. They mainly performed covers of James Brown. Stukas included two phenomenal performers; Gaby Lita Bembo, and Samunga Tediangave (the guitarist). |
AngolaThe music of Angola has been described as a mix of South African music, including Congolese, Portuguese, and Brazilian music. Their music has also been shaped by the strong history of politics. Luana, Angola's largest city, includes many styles of music, including merengue, zouk, kuduro, and semba.
The Semba is much similar to the Brazilian Samba, and through Semba music, the "artist is able to convey a broad spectrum of emotions" (Abram). Because of this, the semba is the premiere style of parties, funerals, and other social gatherings that happen in Angola. A successful Angolan singer Barceló de Carvalho is the one to most popularize Semba music internationally. |
The Kizomba absorbs the influence of the semba and the zouk put together. Kizomba is more modern with a touch of African rhythm, and unlike the Semba, it is slower and the music is more romantic. Angola, once being a Portuguese area, has a lot of Portuguese influence; therefore, the Kizomba songs are often sun in Portuguese. Singer Suzanna Lubrano is a famous Cape Verdean Kizomba singer. |
Listen to the difference between Semba music and Kizomba music!
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Central African Republic
The Central African Republic has music that
generally comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo or other places in
Africa. Jazz and rock and roll are very common, as is European pop.
Pygmy, a common form of music, consists of four parts and is described as "ostinato with variations" (Ivry). A singer can use different rhythms based on various repetitions that can create an interesting endless variety of the same piece of music. The singers learn this music growing up in the Central African Republic, and some of the Pygmies are actually known for their great improvisation in their music. The Pygmies use instruments called the liquindi, the bow harp, and the ngombi. There is another group called the Banda people that have created the Central African Republic’s modern music. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization have called the Banda’s people jazzy rhythm as one of the “great musicological discoveries of our century." They mainly use a group of 18 trumpets called the ongo which is used during rituals and other ceremonies. Check out this cool video of the Pygmies!
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Gabon
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The music of Gabon includes pop and folk. Gabon “is to
Africa what Tibet is to Asia, the spiritual center of religious initiations,
due to the sacred music of the Bwiti, the dominant religious doctrine of the
country” (Fine).
Their folk music includes the traditions of four main tribes: the Nzebi, the Obamba, the Punu, and the Fang. Their music is associated with Bwiti religious ceremonies (listen to the harp music in the video to the left!). These ceremonies usually include “powerful psychedelic tree bark of the iboga" (Fine). Iboga is a shrub native to central Africa that stimulates the central nervous system and induces vision. It is taken in large doses by the initiates of the Bwiti as part of the ceremony, which usually occurs at nighttime. Catholic missionaries in the 1960s have been opposed to this practice; however, the first president of Gabon defended the Iboga and the tradition of music that came along with it, like the playing of the ngombi harp and the drums. In June 2000, Iboga was considered a national treasure, but it remains illegal in some countries and cannot be exported out of Gabon due to its value and cultural ties. A blind guitarist by the name of Pierre Akendengue started the history of modern music in 1974. Most of his songs reflected the influence of his training in Europe with western music. Pierre “came to be seen as a spokesperson for the Gabonese people, and for the poor and dispossessed of all Africa" (Unknown). Even after Gabon declared its censorship of his music, he ended up coming back and was later appointed a government advisor. |