The history of African music goes back centuries. The first recorded music was made by ancient Egyptians and is called Egyptian music. The first known music in Africa was made by the ancient people of North Africa. This music is called Nubian music.
Nubian music is the oldest form of music in Africa. It has been used for thousands of years. It is still being played today in Egypt. Nubian music is a mixture of rhythm, melody, and lyrics. It was used as a means of communicating with the gods. The songs were sung by the priests who were also the singers. The songs were about the gods and how they wanted their people to live.
The ancient Egyptians were very advanced when it came to music. They had many different instruments to make music. The Egyptians used a variety of instruments to make music. Some of these instruments included the harp, flute, drum, lyre, and trumpet.
Egyptian music is still played today. It is called Egyptian folk music. This music is usually played during festivals and ceremonies. It is also used in weddings and funerals.
In the beginning of the 18th century, the music of Africa was introduced to Europe. The Europeans thought that the music from Africa was barbaric and ugly. They tried to change the music to suit their own taste.
Many of the instruments that the Europeans brought into Africa were used to play African music. These instruments included the piano, organ, guitar, and violin.
African music was very popular in the late 19th century. Many famous artists sang and performed African music. These artists include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, and Sarah Vaughn.
African music has evolved over the years. Today there are many different types of African music. Popular styles include Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Swahili, and Shona.