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Kizomba Music and Dance

Kizomba is one of the most popular style of music and dance in the Lusophone African countries, Portuguese-speaking African countries.

Kizomba music is characterized by its slow, romantic rhythm and sensual melodies. The term "kizomba" itself means "party" in Kimbundu, one of the languages spoken in Angola. It is often accompanied by lyrics sung in Portuguese, which adds to its romantic and emotional flavour. The music is usually a steady beat of around 70-90 beats per minute with a strong emphasis on the down beat. A prominent bassline is usually played which provides a solid foundation for its rhythm. Kizomba music uses melodic instrumentation elements such as guitars and keyboards and sometimes African instruments like the marimba or kalimba.

Kizomba dance is an intimate and sensual dance mainly between partners (usually known as a couple dance) where dancers maintain a close chest to chest connection with a strong sense of communication through their movement. The dance is often relaxed and fluid with dancers moving together as a unit using small and subtle steps focusing on weight shifts, hip movement and complex foot work. There are roles between the dancers where a lead guides the movements and a follow responds and interpretes the lead's cue.

Cultural and Historical Origin

The history and origin of the Angolan rhythm is closely tied to the cultural and musical evolution of Angola, particularly in its capital city, Luanda. In the 1970s the country was raging with a war of independence from the Portuguese and by the mid 1970s, their nationalist groups fought for governmental dominance. This heavily influence the county's music for decades to come. Kalaf Epalanga, a famous writer in his band Buraka Som Sistema says that during this times there were military curphews and parties were bieng held in their home (in Luanda) contributed by parents where the dance and music was popular. He says "There weren’t any clubs, but we’d stay up dancing. So that was me growing up — in a war but the music kept playing." This genre during this time was popular and Epalanga further says that "Even if you weren’t really a good dancer you had to dance to meet girls, and you had to dance together because there’s no other way to dance" which from his point of view, the interest in Kizomba was non-negotiable.

Kizomba dance music largely borrowed its upbeat rhythms and tempos from the popular dance at the time, the 'Semba' dance. Semba was the most popular genre as the 1970 came about. Some would argue that it would come from the genre Zouk music(mainly associated with the Carribean islands), Massemba(from Angola) and even cadence-lypso music(from Dominica). The Kassav's (from Guadeloupe, France) 1984 concert held in Luanda Coquieros Stadium would be said to be the defining moment for the genre as 20,000 listeners were exposed to the fast tempo, synth-based, percussion-dominant music. Early Kizomba artists like Bonga and Eduardo Paim synthesizers and the quickened pace. Eduardo Paim and his band, 'SOS' were seen to be the pioneers or forefathers of Kizomba music. They would combine the genres elements and make the rhythms disticntively Angolan which was incredibly impactful and built a foundation fot the genre.

Kizomba was popularly known in the 1800s by African communities living in both Africa and Europe. It was danced to zouk music from the West Indies 'Martinique & Guadeloupe' (Guilbault, 1993) and derived from musical styles produced by artists from the PALOPs2 (Cidra, 2010a) that entered into popularity in that period. Musical hits developed by artists from the French Antilles, produced in Paris and labelled as zouk became a great success from the 1980s onwards in France, parts of West Africa, America, Asia and certain cities in Europe through transnational connections. By the 1990s, the most emblematic Antillean zoukband, Kassav, was touring Portuguese-speaking Africa and fostering the already existing passion for their music in that region.  

In each context, people danced in many different ways in keeping with the influence of local styles, such as the popular semba dance in Angola (Moorman, 2008) or coladera in Cape Verde (Cidra, 2011). Even though the myth of origins held by most dance school teachers in Europe generally points to Angola as its original source, the dance derives from the result of deep transoceanic, inter-African and transnational connections (Jiménez, 2020). In the 1990s, it was commodified in Portugal and attained great success in dance schools and clubs, shrinking the hitherto wide variety of existing dancing styles into a pack of “basic steps”. In less than one decade, it became a global phenomenon following in the footsteps of the transnational salsa circuits of teachers and festivals, spreading not only through Europe and the USA but also through Eastern Europe, Asia, as well as North and West Africa (Kabir, 2014; Soares, 2015; Jiménez, 2019).

Popularity and Spread of Kizomba

The popularity and spread of Kizomba music and dance can be attributed to various factors such as its infectious rhythms, sensual melodies, and cultural significance.

One significant factor in the spread of kizomba music is the migration of Angolan communities to other parts of the world. As people from Angola settled in countries like Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and the United States, they brought their cultural traditions, including kizomba music and dance, with them. These diaspora communities helped to popularize kizomba outside of Angola.

Its rise in popularity is closely linked to the social dance scene. Dance clubs and social events in cities around the world began featuring kizomba music, providing a space for enthusiasts to dance and connect. The intimate and sensual nature of kizomba dance appealed to many, leading to its widespread adoption in social dancing communities. The emergence of kizomba festivals and workshops has played a significant role in spreading the music and dance to new audiences. These events attract participants from diverse backgrounds who come together to learn, dance, and celebrate kizomba. Festivals often feature performances by renowned kizomba artists and provide opportunities for dancers to improve their skills and connect with others in the community.

The rise of social media platforms and online streaming services has made it easier for the genre to reach a global audience. Music videos, dance tutorials, and live performances are widely shared and viewed online, exposing people to the beauty and allure of kizomba. Additionally, television shows and movies sometimes feature kizomba music and dance, further increasing its visibility and popularity.

The fusion of African and Caribbean musical styles in Kizomba has attracted a diverse audience. Musicians from various countries and musical genres have come together to produce Kizomba tracks, blending their distinct influences and generating novel sounds that strike a chord with listeners across the globe. This cross-cultural collaboration has facilitated the spread of Kizomba music beyond its Angolan origins. Kizomba music has proven to be adaptable and versatile, evolving over time to incorporate new influences and styles. This flexibility has enabled kizomba to stay relevant and appealing to changing tastes, attracting new fans while retaining its core elements.

Something about Kizomba dance that make it addictive is the hormones. When we are close to someone, when we experience touch on our skin, we release a hormone called oxytocin, in addition to the dopamine we release when we dance. This oxytocin is called the "cuddle hormone" or a well-being hormone and it makes us feel good. It can even reduce feelings of depression. In Just 20 seconds of hugging we start releasing it. Imagine what hours and hours of dancing kizomba will do? These are the strong ties we need in life and the physical factor of Kizomba dance dispite every other factor leading to its spread is one of the main reasons for the genres popularity.

Summary

Kizomba music and dance originated in Angola, particularly in the city of Luanda during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is a captivating genre that blends traditional Angolan music styles like semba with influences from zouk and other Caribbean rhythms. The result is a slow-tempo, romantic music characterized by its sensual melodies, rhythmic beats, and Portuguese lyrics. Kizomba dance emerged in parallel with the music, as a partner dance closely intertwined with it. The dance features an intimate embrace, with dancers maintaining chest-to-chest connection and moving together in a smooth, flowing manner. The dance emphasizes subtle footwork, hip movements, and body isolation, allowing partners to communicate and express emotions such as passion and longing through their movements. Kizomba's popularity has transcended borders, spreading globally through diaspora communities, social dancing scenes, festivals, and online media. Its appeal lies in its ability to foster connections, both between dance partners and within communities, while also serving as a form of cultural expression and identity. With its infectious rhythms and sensual allure, kizomba continues to captivate audiences worldwide, making it a beloved genre of music and dance with a rich cultural heritage and global impact.