The rich history of African music

The history of African music is a long and complex one, dating back to ancient times when sub-Saharan musical cultures extended into North Africa. The music was performed by full-time musicians for different social and religious events, and it reflected the influences of colonization, urbanization, and independence on African music, which resulted in diverse forms of popular music such as marabi, highlife, juju, jit, and mbaqanga. 

African music has a rich history and is characterized by a wide range of musical instruments.

Here are some traditional African instruments:

1. Kora: A stringed instrument with a harp-like sound, from Senegal. 
2. Mbira: A thumb piano with metal strips on a wooden board, from Zimbabwe. 
3. Djembe, A goblet-shaped drum that is played with bare hands, from Mali .
4. Balafon: A wooden xylophone with gourd resonators, from Mali. 
5. Shekere: A hollow gourd covered with beads or seeds, from West Africa 
6. Udu: A clay pot drum with a hole on the side, from Nigeria. 
7. Marimba: A large wooden xylophone with metal resonators, from Zimbabwe. 
8. Algaita :A double-reed wind instrument, from Nigeria. 

These are just a few examples of the many traditional African instruments that exist.

There are many famous African musicians who have made significant contributions to the music industry. Here are some of them:

    1. Fela Kuti: A Nigerian musician and songwriter who is considered one of the pioneers of Afrobeat music. 
    2.Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi  was a Zimbabwean musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was one of the most influential and iconic musicians to emerge from Zimbabwe, with a career spanning over four decades.
3.Miriam Makeba: A South African singer and civil rights activist who was known as "Mama Africa". 
4. Ali Farka Touré: A Malian singer and guitarist who was known for his unique blend of traditional African music and blues. 
5 Salif Keita: A Malian singer and songwriter who is known for his powerful voice and unique style of music 
6. Angelique Kidjo: A Beninese singer and songwriter who has won multiple Grammy Awards for her music. 

These are just a few examples of the many famous African musicians who have made significant contributions to the music industry.

African music has had a significant impact on Western music, with many Western musicians incorporating African-inspired elements into their music. The influence of African culture on Western music has been reflected in various Western music genres. Africans adopted the philosophy of European style introduced during the colonial period and merged it with their own culture, incorporating African music into the contemporary Western design. 

African music has influenced many musicians throughout the West, grabbing inspiration for rhythms, beats, and melodies from the continent. Jazz music, blues music, and gospel music all grew from African roots. In recent times, African rhythms have been incorporated into popular genres such as rock and roll, hip hop, and electronic dance music.