Music of Africa

Music has played an important part of life in Africa. Music in Africa has been used for many activities, such as child naming ceremonies, child rearing practices, initiation rights, agricultural activities, war, national ceremonies, religious ceremonies, rituals, and death ceremonies. Music was also used for telling stories, such as folk tales, myths, epics, praise poems and rituals. African music is still used this way today. The music of Africa has had an influence on music in other countries, especially the countries in the Americas.