African music is an oral tradition. It is distinct from Arabic cultures in the north and Western European settler communities in southern Africa. African music is largely cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa communities. Everywhere music is integrated into economic and political activities, ceremonies, ancestral rites, worship, entertainment, and domestic life. At different times different people participate in a song or dance.
Traditions emphasize singing.
It is used as a way of communicating. In the African language, tones indicate meaning. The same holds true in singing. In group singing, some societies sing in unison. There are many types of instruments used in African music.