Importance of Music

African cultures have some very important roles within itself. One of the most important one is music. Music is specially vital in African dances, and also their cultures. Wherever there is music, most of time, dance comes along with it. Music and dance mean so much more than just having a good time in Africa. In their culture, dance is usually done by a community or a group for a specific purpose. They sometimes have music and dances that tells a story of warriors and kings. In the 1500's, when slavery was brought into Africa, many different music styles and various dance forms merged together with styles of European cultures. Many Africans who were enslaved continued to remember this music and dance to keep their cultural traditions and connect with their home country. North American slave owners prohibited Africans from performing most of their traditional dances, but the importance of music and dance were not stopped by these restrictions. They found ways to adapt and kept performing this traditions. They created music using their voice developing several techniques to create complex sounds. They also used instruments such as musical bows, harps, and Kora. Drums were also mainly used in central and west Africa. This merge created a wider and bigger array of music in Africa, which also spread to other parts of the world. Music is an integral part of African culture which is performed and played at various ceremonies as a part of their culture.