Afro-rock
Encyclopedia
Afro rock is is a popular dance music
pioneered in the late 1960s and early 1970s by such groups as Monomono, Osibisa
and Alhaji K. Frimpong. It is a style of which relies heavily on the use of Western string instrument
s (electric guitar
s and bass) and guitar effects. The genre is deeply based in Western chordal structure and progression (mostly minor), emphasized on instruments like synthesizer
and organ
. Although the rhythmic engine of the music is (some configuration of) a western trap set, other characteristically African and Afro-Cuban elements pervade the remainder of the rhythm section (including congas, claves, shekeres, bells, and whistles). The vocal style can be seen as an amalgamation of African language and inflection into an American rock and funk context.
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
pioneered in the late 1960s and early 1970s by such groups as Monomono, Osibisa
Osibisa
Osibisa is a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians. Osibisa were one of the first African bands to become widely popular, leading to claims of founding World Music.-History:...
and Alhaji K. Frimpong. It is a style of which relies heavily on the use of Western string instrument
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
s (electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and bass) and guitar effects. The genre is deeply based in Western chordal structure and progression (mostly minor), emphasized on instruments like synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. Although the rhythmic engine of the music is (some configuration of) a western trap set, other characteristically African and Afro-Cuban elements pervade the remainder of the rhythm section (including congas, claves, shekeres, bells, and whistles). The vocal style can be seen as an amalgamation of African language and inflection into an American rock and funk context.