Kizomba

Kizomba is one of most popular styles of Dance and Music in the lusophone African countries. Sung in Portuguese or Portuguese Creole, it is a genre of music with a Euro-centric romantic flow mixed with African rhythm sections. The kizomba dancing style is also very sensual.

Kizomba is native to the African country of Angola, with influences from other lusophone countries. It is also performed in other Lusophone African countries and Portugal. It is known for having a slow, insistent, somewhat harsh, yet sensuous rhythm, and is considered to be a fusion of Semba (a predecessor of samba) with other musical styles. It is ideally danced accompanied by a partner, very smoothly and slowly, though not too tightly.

The influence of Angolan kizomba is felt in most Portuguese speaking African countries, but also spreading to a number of clubs in Portugal (mostly in Lisbon), where communities of immigrants from these countries have helped establish a steady number of successful clubs centered on the genre. In Angola most clubs are based in Luanda. Famous Angolan kizomba musicians include Don Kikas, MC Roger and Irmãos Verdade, among many others.

The Sãotomean kizomba is very similar to the Angolan, Juka is the most notable among the Sãotomeans, but it is also one of the most notable performers in the genre.

Capeverdean kizomba is divergent from Angolan kizomba due to the language used (often Portuguese Creole instead of Portuguese) and a more romantic and less harsh rhythm and lyrics. It is also called "kizomba crioula" (Creole kizomba). Suzanna Lubrano is one of the most successful among Cape verdean performers considered in 2003 as the best African performer, other known Cape verdeans are Gil Semedo, Philip Monteiro, Gama and Tó Semedo. Notable emigrant Capeverdean kizomba singers live in Portugal and in the Netherlands.

The Nha África - Paixão e Ritmo Album (mixed Portuguese and Portuguese Creole for My Africa, Passion and Rhythm), launched in Portugal in 2005, is a successful collection of Angolan and Cape Verdean romantic kizomba songs. Other successeful former release is Lusodance.