Kizomba/Semba

First contact with Kizomba and Semba can be confusing.

 

Kizomba and Semba are both words from the Kimbundu language, from the North-West of Angola. Semba means "touch of the belly buttons", Kizomba means "party". 

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Kizomba and Semba are also music genres. There is Kizomba music, there is Semba music. But since Kizomba also means party, there will be different styles of music played in a typical Kizomba party: for example: Kizomba, Konpa, Zouk, Coladaira and Semba.

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Kizomba and Semba are also dances. Although in our current understanding, Semba is really the base and Kizomba is an interpretation of Kizomba music with that Semba base. That same Semba base can be adapted to dance to Angolan Rumba and Bolero.