Semba, from the singular Massemba, which means “a touch of the bellies”, is a move that defines the Semba dance. This dance is still as popular today as it was years ago before Angola’s independence on November 11, 1975 from the Portuguese system of ruling. Semba is danced to the Semba music which is a native type of music sung in a witty rhetoric from the Southern-African country of Angola and is often an advisory tale relating daily life and social activities. The ability of this music to transmit a wide variety of feelings is a feature that has made it the major type of music at most Angolan functions.
Each year, new Semba artistes join the veteran artistes who are still performing and they perform to the dancing pleasure of the people. The Kizomba, Rebita and carnival music such as Kazukuta and Kabetula are other dance syles succeeded by the Semba dance style. Semba music, generally being categorised as World music, conceivably has popular Angolan singer, Barceló de Carvalho a.k.a Bonga to thank for putting Semba music on international scale.
Here is a video of a dance couple dancing this very beautiful African dance below:
