African Music - Dance - Instruments

Traditional African music is an integral part of life. It has social, ritual, and ceremonial functions as well as some purely recreational purposes.

An intimate union forms between man and the performing arts in Africa. It amounts to a total communion that is shared by the whole community.

This may help explain why some languages in black Africa have no precise noun to define music.

The art of music is so inherent in man that it is superfluous to have a particular name for it.

African music and dance , are rooted in mythology, legends, and folklore, and are associated with gods, ancestors and heroes. Musical activities are ritualised and intended to link the visible world with the invisible.

Percussion instruments are the most popular instrument in Africa. Rattles, friction sticks, bells, clappers, and cymbals are popular. Many groups also use the sansa and xylophones. Numerous types of drums are also used.

Various wind instruments are made out of tusks, horns, conch shells, wood or gourds.

Traditional African music does not have a written tradition. Melodic patterns are affected by intonation patterns of the language. african instruments drums.

The rhythmic aspect of African music unites the music of various groups and areas. Rhythm is made of patterns; similar patterns are found throughout all of Africa.

Drumming is very popular in Africa and is more important than melodic music. The drum is so important in African society that it is sometimes equated with a man.

Women must consequently treat it with the same respect that they would show towards their menfolk. In some African countries women are not even allowed to touch a drum.

Dance in Africa is not a separate art, but a part of the whole complex of living. For Africans, the magic of all life is experienced. African dance is basic, vital, and complete.

It varies from the slowest and stateliest of court dances to those which move so rapidly the eye cannot hope to register all that is happening.

In all, there is the concept of beauty. Beauty is in the rhythmic action, composure, smile, body decoration and proposes.

Masks play an important part in connecting the living with the ancestral spirits and ancient deities.

It is a means by which people strive to gain knowledge and insight into the future. The dancer "becomes" the mask, thus it is traditionally important that the human identity is not revealed to the public.

Traditionally, people throughout the continent of Africa achieve direct communication between themselves and their gods through ritual music and dance, including many with masks.

In African Funerals, the music and dance tell a sort of biography of the person who has. His/her occupation, his successes, his/her social position in life, and how he/she died is reflected in the music and dance.

The funeral dances express the importance of the community in traditional African life, in which people are bound by a shared respect for their heritage and a pride in the accomplishments of their fellow members.

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