Semba (Angola)

The semba is a traditional Angolan musical style and dance, considered the ancestor of kizomba. The term comes from Portuguese “samba” (in Angola, it is pronounced “semba”). It is a rhythmic music played with drums, sung and danced in couples.

The semba is a fundamental base of Angolan music and has influenced Brazilian samba (which takes its name from the Angolan semba). The emblematic figures include Amor Deiro and traditional groups from Luanda.

Modern kizomba is a softer, more sensual evolution of the semba.

References

• Wikipedia — Semba (Angola)
• Wikipedia — Kizomba
• Guide Stern, Ch. 20 (Angola) and Sweet Mother, Ch. 5