Moving With Kizomba
A History of The Angolan Music Genre
Musical Roots In Angolan Rhythms
Angola in the 1970s was raging with war. In the early 1970s, the country was occupied with a war of independence from the Portuguese, and by the middle of the 1970s, the Angolan nationalist groups fought for governmental dominance.
The country’s political situation heavily influenced the music being created for decades to come.
Before we could talk about kizomba, it’s important to reflect on its precursors. For starters, the danceable rhythms’ upbeat tempos of semba music were largely borrowed by Kizomba artists.
Semba historically comes from the coastal Angolan rhythm music rooted in the 18th century. By the time the 1970s came around, semba was the most popular genre in the land. Its brutally honest lyrics and heavy beat syncopations make it equally suitable for funerals and festive community gatherings.
Zouk and cadence-lypso music are also essential forebearers of kizomba music. Many musicologists and Angolans refer to Kassava’s 1984 concert at Luanda Coquieros Stadium as a defining moment for Kizomba. During the show, 20,000 listeners were immediately exposed to the fast tempo, synth-based, percussion-dominant music. The use of synthesizers and the quickened pace…
