Intro Africa

• the introduction for Africa is four bars long, and is in B major
• the introduction contains three chords - A, G#m and C#m in that order
• the first riff (riff a) in the intro is a syncopated rhythm repeating an A chord and concluding with G#m and C#m chords
• In Africa a riff refers to the chords used and repeated such as the first 2 bars and an ostinato refers to the melodic movement in the last 2 bars of the intro
• the second riff (riff b) in bars 3 and 4 with an anacrusis uses an ostinato pattern of 5 notes based on the E major pentatonic scale (notes 1,2,3,5,6) over a sustained C#m chord
• with the exception of the chorus, the first riff makes an appearance in every other section of the song whilst the second is developed in the instrumental section (bar 66)
• both riff a and b have origins in traditional African music with their use of syncopation, pentatonic scales and irregular ostinato groupings that cut across the 2/2 time signature. the recording also includes an 8 bar introduction played by unpitched percussion instruments, heard before the vocal score begins and contains African influence through the use of layered rhythm parts and ostinatos