Hello everyone,

I’ve set up this website as a helper to anyone who loves music from different parts of Africa and in addition likes sharing their knowledge, views or opinions about African music in order to create more understanding of what African music represents in world music.

The website takes a look at what music from different parts of Africa is all about in the contemporary world, its origin and its varied types in different African regions. Arguably, African Music is one of the most influential music in the world. But it did not originate from nowhere.

The fact is different African regions were influenced by a number of foreign musical cultures. For instance many nations in Northern Africa can trace their more recent music lineage back to the Greeks and Romans who once governed over the area. Later there was also a substantial Middle Eastern influence on their music.

Other African regions were similarly affected by foreign music. The East Coast of Africa was heavily influenced by Arabic and Indian music, Taarabu music was born as a result of this eclectic influence. On the same token, Southern, Central and West Africa had been influenced by the music of North America and Western Europe.

Other African music especially from East and Central Africa can be attributed to specific dance forms such as the rumba and salsa, which were founded by African slaves who settled in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Musicology in South of Sahara.

Music from South of Sahara desert or what is normally referred to as Sub-Sahara is more African than regions. Despite external influences, sub Saharan music has always sounded and is always sounding African.

Music in sub Saharan Africa was mainly used as a form of communication stemming from medieval times when reading and writing was not part of the society. It was a way of self expression as well as celebration of different stages of people’s life.

Spiritual beliefs also incorporated music as a way of prayers. This kind of music was typified with specific forms of ceremonial dances. It is often performed by professional musicians who have knowledge and experience with ceremonial music.

Percussive Instrumentation Then and Now In Sub Sahara:

What part of sub Saharan Africa you are in, the drum is the most common percussive instrument that was and still widespread in its use. Others such as flutes and even xylophones were also used in traditional African music; however there is nothing more important than the basic African hand drum.

As a matter of fact, there are numerous forms of drums that are played on various occasions. A few of the most popular drums that are used in a traditional African musical include: Isukuti and Ndarama in East Africa and West African Djembe, water drums and a many different kinds of ngoma drum that are played in parts of Central and Southern Africa.

With advancement in technology, so also has traditional African music percussive instruments advanced as well as its users. Old and modern drums while in use are almost always accompanied by singers or choruses who often keep time with, wood sticks, rattles shakers, bells or by simply clapping their hands’ or stumping their feet.

North Africa Musical Influences

North African music was strongly influenced by the Egyptians and Arabs. Even though more of Arabic in nature, North African music still has the same African baritones from the rest of Africa. Traditional North African culture can be said to more skewed towards being similar to the middle eastern culture as opposed to that of Sub Sahara. As a result of musical influence from the middle east, North Africa is a little different from the rest of Africa. North African Music nevertheless is historically important and merits great review by all those interested in traditional music.