Central African Republic

The Central African Republic holds forest and savanna cultures, with Aka polyphony, harp music and craft.

Music & dance Crafts Textile & dress Language & oral Nature & herbalism

Knowledge in this place

Aka polyphonic singing

Aka polyphonic singing

Aka forest people weave dense improvised vocal polyphony for hunts and rites.

Sanza thumb piano

Sanza thumb piano

Makers craft the sanza lamellophone from metal tongues over a wooden box.

Painted barkcloth

Painted barkcloth

Forest peoples beat tree bark into cloth and paint it with charcoal designs.

Textile & dress

Gbaya storytelling

Gbaya storytelling

Gbaya tales mix sung refrains and narration to teach and entertain at night.

Language & oral

Forest honey gathering

Forest honey gathering

Aka gatherers climb tall trees to harvest wild honey with smoke and skill.

Nature & herbalism