Summary

Semba is both a genre of music and dance, and is a distinctive and unique style of music and dance that originated and was created in Angola by Angolans. The genre gave rise to a variety of music styles that originated from Angola like Kizomba and Kuduro.

Influences
JosplayExplore Semba on Josplay Music
HistorySemba is a traditional Angolan music and dance style, originating from the ancient rhythm of Massemba. The term “semba” means "a touch of belly buttons," a movement iconic to the dance where partners press their bellies together—a playful gesture that is both recognizable and entertaining. This popular dance form dates back to the 17th century, developing along Angola’s coastal regions, particularly near Luanda and Benguela. During this time, the transatlantic slave trade spread Angolan musical traditions across the Americas, where they mixed with rhythms from the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas. Despite foreign influences, Angolan musicians maintained a unique sound, blending these styles with their own, and thus evolving their musical identity.
Semba is a fusion of various traditional Angolan music styles, including massemba, kizomba, kuduro, rebita, kazukuta, kabetula, maringa, caduque, cidralia, and dizanda, many of which are associated with carnival celebrations. Semba’s rhythm is closely related to kazukuta, and it holds a special movement, umbigada, where partners embrace by the hips or shoulders and pull each other toward their bellies.
Liceu Vieira Dias, considered the father of modern Angolan music, played a pivotal role in Semba’s development. With his group, N'gola Ritmos, founded in 1947, he laid the foundations for modern Semba. Under Portuguese colonial rule, Semba became a voice of resistance, a subtle way for Angolans to express their dissatisfaction with colonial oppression. Later, Semba became a joyful celebration of freedom following Angola’s independence in 1975. It evolved into a social and cultural expression of postcolonial identity, liberation, and unity.
Elements 
Form and Style

Semba is rhythmic and lively, marked by intricate footwork and partner movements. Dancers move closely, emphasizing connection and fluidity.

Singing Style

Theme

Semba lyrics revolve around stories of day-to-day life, social events and activities. Early semba songs leaned towards political commentary but relied more on joyous and celebratory themes to bring the feel-good mood the genre comes with.

Culture

Semba was shaped by Angolan traditions and influenced by Portuguese, Brazilian, and Cuban music, blending African rhythms with Iberian melodies and Caribbean beats.

Timbre

Arrangement

Semba music's basic rhythm is based on a 2/4 time signature, which means that each measure contains two beats. The first beat is typically emphasized, whereas the second beat is less noticeable. The rhythm is sometimes referred to as a "shuffle," with a syncopated feel that lends it a distinctive bounce. Semba rhythm is primarily guitar led