African Classical Music

African Classical Music designates the continent's sophisticated court, ceremonial, and griot traditions developed over centuries within established kingdoms. Distinct from folk or popular idioms, it is characterized by complex theoretical underpinnings, including intricate polyrhythms, unique tuning systems, and advanced instrumental techniques on instruments like the kora and balafon. The ethos is often tied to genealogy, oral history, or spiritual functions, performed by hereditary specialists. Its principles were later codified by composers like *Fela Sowande* and *J.H. Kwabena Nketia*, influencing contemporary art music and global perceptions of African musical heritage, preserved on recordings from labels like #Nonesuch#.