Rhythm in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan African music is characterised by a "strong rhythmic interest"^[1] that exhibits common characteristics in all regions of this vast territory, so that Arthur Morris Jones (1889–1980) has described the many local approaches as constituting one main system.^[2] C. K. Ladzekpo also affirms the profound homogeneity of approach.^[3] West African rhythmic techniques carried over the Atlantic were fundamental ingredients in various musical styles of the Americas: samba, forró, maracatu and coco in Brazil, Afro-Cuban music and Afro-American musical genres such as blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, funk, soul, reggae, hip hop, and rock and roll were thereby of immense importance in 20th century popular music. ^{[citation needed]} The drum is renowned throughout Africa.

^ Stapleton C. and May C., African All-Stars, Paladin 1989, page 6
^ Jones, A. M. (1959), Studies in African Music, London: Oxford University Press. 1978 edition: ISBN 0-19-713512-9.
^ Ladzekpo, C.K. (1996), Cultural Understanding of Polyrhythm http://home.comcast.net/~dzinyaladzekpo/PrinciplesFr.html.

[1] Stapleton C. and May C., African All-Stars, Paladin 1989, page 6

[2] Jones, A. M. (1959), Studies in African Music, London: Oxford University Press. 1978 edition: ISBN 0-19-713512-9.

[3] Ladzekpo, C.K. (1996), Cultural Understanding of Polyrhythm http://home.comcast.net/~dzinyaladzekpo/PrinciplesFr.html.

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