West African traditional music

West African traditional music is a vibrant and diverse musical heritage rooted in the region’s history, culture, and social practices. It features complex rhythms, polyrhythms, and call-and-response singing, often performed with traditional instruments like drums (djembe, talking drum), balafon, and kora. Music is integral to ceremonies, storytelling, dance, and communal celebrations, serving both spiritual and social functions. The style varies across countries such as Mali, Senegal, and Ghana, but consistently emphasizes communal participation, intricate percussion, and melodic improvisation, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and shared values of West African societies.