Music is an important part of traditional African life. The styles of music vary across the countries of Africa. The music features a number of percussion instruments.
Percussive instruments are a part of life in some African societies. Traditionally they have been used for:
ceremonies of all occasions, from celebrating birth to respecting the dead
calling to arms in wars
religious rites and rituals
communicating across distances
Music and dance are an integral part of the African culture. They used to and still provide a valuable way to communicate with workers in the fields or pass messages to other villages. The music can vary hugely throughout Africa but has similar purposes, eg for storytelling, welcoming heroes, and religious ceremonies. Music is seen to illustrate the importance of human life, to connect people and to support the sense of community. Music and dance are mainly performed by large groups in villages.
The music played by drum ensembles is very complex in rhythmPatterns created by notes of various lengths. and textureThe 'feel' of a surface - its qualities of fineness, coarseness, smoothness, softness, hardness, shininess etc.. The rhythms are not normally written down and are instead passed between people through aural traditionMusic that is taught by aurally communicating the techniques rather than written formally in a score.. The master drummer has the most elaborate part, leading the drum ensemble and playing solos. The leader directs the drummers with musical cues in the form of rhythm patterns. The leader will also give cues to dancers to signal changes of tempoThe speed that the music is played at. or dance moves. As well as percussion-based music, there is a lot of singing, including shouts, yodelSinging that involves rapid change between falsetto and normal voice. and other types of sound.