Rhythm and melody

Published on 25-01-2015

African music has been around for a long time, and it’s not going anywhere. It’s a central part of African life and, whether you know it or not, it’s probably part of your life too. The sounds and rhythms of African music were ‘borrowed’ to create jazz and the blues, which later evolved into rock and roll, R&B and hip hop.

The continent of Africa is vast, so it’s no surprise that different regions and countries have their own distinct musical styles and traditions. The songs or instruments used may be different, or the same instrument may go by different names in different places.

The drum is generally agreed to be the oldest musical instrument in the world, with pretty much every culture using drums in one way or another. In Africa, drums are the most important of the musical instruments and they come in all shapes, sizes and styles. One of the most widespread is the classic goblet-shaped drum that’s played with bare hands.

You’ve probably seen one of these or maybe even had a go, but it’s not as easy as it looks. It takes a lot of skill and practice to produce the characteristic polyrhythmic African drum sound. What’s a polyrhythm, you ask? It’s the simultaneous use of two (or more?!) conflicting rhythms, with a primary beat and a cross-beat. It’s like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time, but a lot louder.

The amazing thing is that a lot of African languages don’t actually have a word for ‘rhythm’, or even ‘music’. Maybe it’s because their rhythms represent the essence of life itself; philosophically, the cross-beats can symbolise challenges or stresses in life. By sharing the rhythm with others in a dance or ritual, they all become part of the collective rhythm of life.

The rest of the African rhythm section is filled out with all sorts of rattles, shakers and sticks like the kayamba, a raft rattle made out of reeds. Or calabash shakers (maracas) that are elaborately carved, painted or covered with strings and shells that are not only decorative but also add another layer of sound.

The complex melodies and harmonies of African music are created by voices, xylophones, flutes and all sorts of string instruments. One example is the nzeze, an African harp with the strings attached along a curved neck from a sounding board made from a large hollow gourd. Gourds can also be used to make xylophones like the mariba. The gourd is used to make the hollow ‘resonator’ box underneath the wooden bars, shaped to amplify the sound when struck with a rubber-tipped mallet.

African musical instruments are stunning specimens of African craft made from natural materials, which explains their popularity in interiors all over the world. Chances are you’ve seen one of these handcrafted artefacts used in interior decor as a display piece, and a drum and some shakers could be perfect for your home too. They look great, kids love them and you might just be inspired to create a few rhythms of your own…

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