10 Best South African Albums of 2021 For Students
Music plays a crucial role in how humans communicate, celebrate, and remember historical events throughout Africa! Music is a way to communicate and serves a practical purpose in African culture. Marriage, childbirth, rites of passing, hunting, and even political activity are all accompanied by songs. Music in African culture can also be used to heal the ill, to induce rain, and to perform religious dances.
It is well known that African music has evolved significantly over the years. In today’s modern environment, African music has progressed even further, with new musical genres emerging across the continent.
Why Listen to Modern African Music?
Uniqueness. How distinct each place and genre is from one another. It’s still necessary to discuss Africa in its entirety, but to be honest — far too often, people make the mistake of categorizing 54 states and dozens, if not thousands, of civilizations together when Africans are, in fact, extremely different.
Globalization. From a global perspective, what are African beats? African music appeals to people of all ages and has grown in popularity in European countries, North America, and even Oriental countries such as China or Thailand. Speaking of globalization, if you’re here because you’re looking for an essay writing service to help you with your African music homework, get essay writing assistance by uk.edubirdie. You could also search the web for ‘write my essay’ and buy essay online or you could pay Edubirdie to write an essay. Either way, international writers will be able to help you out if you reach out.
Creativity. African music can be absolutely unique, intriguing, and deeply touching. It’s awe-inspiring, inventive and energetic. It has the ability to combine a variety of rhythms and motifs. Small communities can be given power, and dying tongues can be revived and preserved. It has the potential to be significant and political.
What Makes African Music So Unique?
African tunes can be singles, duets, or choral, with call-and-response being the most fundamental variety. A lead vocalist sings a phrase that is responded by a chorus.
African vocalists employ a wide range of tones. The melodies are brief and repetitive, and they incorporate whistling, which is unique to African music. A polyphonic framework is created when the singer improvises new tunes while the chorus continues with the original sound. The emphasis is on repetition and percussion. Body rhythm, such as clapping, foot pounding, and dancing, is another key aspect of this genre of music.
What is Afrobeats?
Afrobeats is a concept that gets repeated a lot, a word that has mixed feelings for many on here, and whose interpretation is frequently misunderstood by well-intentioned European DJs.
I’ve heard or read Afrobeats used to apply to all of the contemporary African music, as well as Caribbean genres, which are clearly distinct. Simply naming everything produced by non-American black people “Afrobeats” falls into an overused stereotype of believing that everything created by non-American Black people is homogenous.
What is Gqom?
Gqom is a style that has caused me to reflect a lot on words. The lyrics in Gqom take on a chanted rhythm with a minimalistic, groove backbeat, accentuating each sounds even if you don’t understand the meaning. It’s simple and straightforward: someone says a phrase, and the chorus repeats it after her, making it ideal for studying Zulu or rehearsing Zulu notes.
Top 10 African Music Albums in 2021
Music remains among the best comforts in a world irrevocably transformed by COVID-19. Even when practical sharing of music was impossible, thanks to technological marvels, artists took cover and continued the work. In the midst of the epidemic, when lockdowns were imposed and live music events were prohibited, some of the greatest music was created. Check out the top African music albums of 2021.
- Legacy+ – Femi and Made Kuti, Nigeria
- Water & Garri – Tiwa Savage, Nigeria
- Subconsciously – Black Coffee, South Africa
- Rumble in the Jungle – Scorpion Kings X Tresor, South Africa
- Mother Nature – Angelique Kidjo, Benin
- Couleur – Dobet Gnahore, Cote d’Ivoire
- Afrique Victime – Mdou mocta, Nigeria
- Made in Africa – Eddy Kenzo, Uganda
- Definition of Love – Mbosso, Tanzania
- Medicine EP – Bensoul, Kenya
Wrapping Up
Today’s modern world music is heavily influenced by Africa. Almost all popular types of music, including Rock ‘n’ Roll, Salsa, Jazz, or RnB – have elements of African music. Percussion instruments have long been a part of humanity’s history.
Drums are one of Africa’s most famous instruments, and they’ve been a part of the continent’s culture for millennia. Drums are inextricably linked to African societies, and they are used to communicate, commemorate, lament, and encourage.
Author Bio:
Alisia Stren is a copywriter and freelancer, writing for a popular company. She likes to write on topics such as music, marketing, and personal development. In her free time, Alisia studies ballet and Afrobeats.