Afro-

Latin
American
Music &
Popular
Music
 African traditional
music
Is mainly functional in nature which is used
primarily in ceremonial rites, such as birth,
death, marriage, succession, worship and
spirit invocations.
Others are work related or social in nature,
while many traditional societies view their
music as a form of entertainment.
Main Characteristics
of
Afro – Latin music
• Combines the basics of rhythm,
blues and gospel music

• It starts with a conversation

(call and response)
• The instruments as a voice, the
instrument serves as a “singer”
along with the performer
• Improvisation – non scripted ways
of singing which allow for sincere
conversations. It is a framework
where the artist has a freedom to
create the musical mood.
• The voice as an instrument – the
manipulation of a freely
controlled piece where they can
change the tempo, tone of voice,
creation of moods and even
changing the range and voice
power.
VOCAL FORMS OF
AFRICAN MUSIC

 Maracatu
 Blues
 Soul
 Spiritual
 Call and Response
Macaratu
It is a combination of strong
rhythms of African percussion
instruments and Portuguese
melodies. This form of music
is being paraded along the
streets by up to 100
participants.
Blues
It is one of the most widely
performed musical forms of the
late 19th century. The melodies
of blues are expressive and
soulful. The slaves and their
descendants used to sing
these as they work in the fields.
Soul
It is a popular music genre of
the 1950s and 1960s which
originated in the African-
American community throughout
the United States. It combines
elements of African-American
gospel music, rhythm and blues
and often jazz.
Spiritual
It is originated in the United
States and created by African-
American slaves. It is also
known as “Negro Spiritual” it
became a means of imparting
Christian values and a way of
venting their hardships as
slaves
 Call and Response
It is likened to a question and
answer sequence in human
communication. The slaves
used to sing these songs while
simultaneously doing all their
tasks in a day.
Research, define, study and write it
on your activity notebook as Activity
no. 1.
What are the different types

of African music with

definition?