Equatorial Guinea'sculture has been less documented than most African countries, and commercial recordings remain scarce.
Thenational anthem of Equatorial Guinea was written byAtanasio Ndongo Miyone and adopted in 1968, when the country gained independence from Spain[1]. Equatorial Guinea was carved out of three formerSpanishcolonies:Río Muni, a strip of land betweenCameroon andGabon;Bioko, an island near Cameroon; andAnnobón, an island in theAtlantic Ocean far from the mainland.
The largestethnic group are theFang (85.7% (1994 census) of a total 704,001 (July 2013 est.)), with 6.5%Bubi and smaller populations of Mdowe (3.6%),Annobonese (1.6%) andBujeba (1.1%),[1] including smaller groups such as theNdowe, theBisio and theCombe.
The Fang are known for theirmvet, a cross between azither and aharp. The mvet can have up to fifteen strings. The semi-spherical part of this instrument is made of bamboo and the strings are attached to the center by fibers. Music for the mvet is written in a form ofmusical notation that can only be learned by initiates of thebebom-mvet society. Music is typicallycall and response with achorus anddrums alternating. Musicians like Eyi Muan Ndong have helped to popularize folk styles.
A three- or four- person orchestra consisting of some arrangement ofsanza,xylophone,drums,zithers andbow harps accompanies the many dances in Equatorial Guinea, such as thebalélé and therisque ibanga.[2]
Another popular instrument is the tam-tam, a wooden box covered with animal skin. In its center are bamboo keys installed with complete musical scales. A second type of tam-tam has two different levels of musical keys. Generally, wooden musical instruments are decorated with fauna images and geometric drawings. Drums are covered with animal skins or animal drawings.[3]
There is littlepopular music coming out of Equatorial Guinea. Pan-African styles likesoukous andmakossa are popular, as arereggae androck and roll. Acoustic guitar bands based on a Spanish model are the country's best-known indigenous popular tradition, especially national stars Desmali andDambo de la Costa.[4]
Other musicians from Equatorial Guinea includePatrima,Malabo Strit Band,Luna Loca,Chiquitin,Dambo de la Costa,Ngal Madunga,Lily Afro andSpain-based exiles likeSuper Momo,Hijas del Sol andBaron Ya Buk-Lu [es].