What I mean by that is in AA music we always have to belt...think Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin. I always assumed that style of singing was testament to the fact that the African essence still continues to exist in All Africans in Diaspora. But as I listen to 2face, to p-square, and Wizkid (who sounds like he's trying his best to imitate T-pain) none are belting. Why is this? Don't African singers use the belting technique too?

TisaBone: What I mean by that is in AA music we always have to belt...think Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin. I always assumed that style of singing was testament to the fact that the African essence still continues to exist in All Africans in Diaspora. But as I listen to 2face, to p-square, and Wizkid (who sounds like he's trying his best to imitate T-pain) none are belting. Why is this? Don't African singers use the belting technique too?

So you are comparing 2face, p-square and wizkid (all males by the way with a unique music genre of their own) to Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin who started singing in church where it is customary to belt out tunes as is part of the black american worship style and r & b music genre. How many Nigerian or African FEMALE music artists do you listen to? I guess none because if you did, you will know that OMAWUMI can sing and belts out tunes too and has a nice vocal range. Same can be said for Angelique Kidjo.

On the other hand, maybe most Africans are not just into screaming while singing. For example, I have observed the way most white americans sing and worship. When they sing, most don't scream or belt. Maybe that is why I love to listen to contemporary christian music from artists like Micheal W. Smith, Hillsong, Chris Thomlin and the likes along with African praise worship. All that belting can cause one a headache sometimes when all I want to do is worship the Saviour Jesus in a peaceful and not so loud way.

TisaBone: What I mean by that is in AA music we always have to belt...think Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin. I always assumed that style of singing was testament to the fact that the African essence still continues to exist in All Africans in Diaspora. But as I listen to 2face, to p-square, and Wizkid (who sounds like he's trying his best to imitate T-pain) none are belting. Why is this? Don't African singers use the belting technique too?

I understand where you're coming from but this pertains to techniques such as call and response. I think belting is more of an original AA thing. And you can't really use p-square, wizkid and 2face as examples as they're not really 'singers' (in my opinion anyway lol). Maybe artists like Tiwa Savage, Timi Dakolo or Lara might belt from time to time but even still, all these artists have been influenced by American music one way or the other so like I said earlier I don't think belting is a traditional african thing.

depends on the audience?

or is it the culture.

dasparrow:

So you are comparing 2face, p-square and wizkid (all males by the way with a unique music genre of their own) to Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin who started singing in church where it is customary to belt out tunes as is part of the black american worship style and r & b music genre. How many Nigerian or African FEMALE music artists do you listen to? I guess none because if you did, you will know that OMAWUMI can sing and belts out tunes too and has a nice vocal range. Same can be said for Angelique Kidjo.

On the other hand, maybe most Africans are not just into screaming while singing. For example, I have observed the way most white americans sing and worship. When they sing, most don't scream or belt. Maybe that is why I love to listen to contemporary christian music from artists like Micheal W. Smith, Hillsong, Chris Thomlin and the likes along with African praise worship. All that belting can cause one a headache sometimes when all I want to do is worship the Saviour Jesus in a peaceful and not so loud way.

All those artists, 2face, psquare and wizkid don't even sing true African music. It is Western music mixed with some African beats. But for the most part the music they sing is Westernized.

valen la bella:

I don't think belting is a traditional african thing.

its not.

that's why i pointed out the audience is what dictates the technique.

TisaBone: What I mean by that is in AA music we always have to belt...think Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin. I always assumed that style of singing was testament to the fact that the African essence still continues to exist in All Africans in Diaspora. But as I listen to 2face, to p-square, and Wizkid (who sounds like he's trying his best to imitate T-pain) none are belting. Why is this? Don't African singers use the belting technique too?

What exactly is the belting technique, also those music you mentioned are not traditional African music. Every ethnic group in Nigeria has a different way of singing.

For example this is how the Fulani sing (refer to Baaba Maal as well):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PSh3WuHX84
This is how the Hausa sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBRWjippzIs
This is how the Igbo sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCdqGmdW5LM
This is how the Yoruba sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrbRXaNG6vs
This is how the Edo sing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKd0pSysaf0

That said this is a very limited example as these songs don't really illustrate or come close to all the style used in all the aforementioned ethnic groups.

TisaBone: What I mean by that is in AA music we always have to belt...think Patti Labelle or Aretha Franklin. I always assumed that style of singing was testament to the fact that the African essence still continues to exist in All Africans in Diaspora. But as I listen to 2face, to p-square, and Wizkid (who sounds like he's trying his best to imitate T-pain) none are belting. Why is this? Don't African singers use the belting technique too?

Good question.

I think it could be that many see "screaming" as either unnecessary or vulgar. They more so "drag out" words in high pitch than scream.

As far as "screaming", a lot of it has to do with the fact that western black culture is more "expressive" if you will when it comes to emotion, as opposed to many on the Motherland who are much more reserved than us. But singing in high pitch is definitely something we got from Africa which is a "prelude" in a sense to "screaming". (I hope you understand my point).

(Bassa-Liberian song. Notice the 'high pitch - draw out of words' )


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mylWSRzbpwc

(yes she is using "auto tune" but its obvious she has a strong/high pitched tone without it. )

i see what you mean mzdarkskin. thanks to everyone who answered my question!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCuKwUCV3s

more accurate Igbo style singing.

stretching, not necessarily belting at the end of some words....