The Aka people living in the southwest region of the Central African Republic are known to be Pygmies and have developed a unique acapella music tradition involving a type of contrapuntal polyphony with four voices that is mastered by all members of the Aka community.
Aka rituals include a large number of dance and music performances, from inauguration ceremonies to those for hunting, funerals and the funeral rites themselves. Contrary to polyphonic systems that feature ‘notated notations’, the Aka Pygmy's vocal tradition allows for spontaneous expression and improvisation as well as the use of notation.
There are many ways to produce variations in the voice of each singer during a performance, which creates the feeling that the music continues to change. In general, the songs are accompanied by a variety of instruments, such as percussion instruments and string instruments, which play a specific part according to the occasion.
One of the most common instruments in the country is the enzeko drum (a local type) together with the geedale-bagongo, which is like a harp in kind, along with the mbela bow (a single string instrument).
The songs are a means of transmitting knowledge that is essential to the cohesion of the group as a whole, as well as the preservation of communal values. During the dances, handclapping provides dynamism and energy by accompanying various movements. In some dance rituals, only men may participate, but in others, females and males may take part by themselves or in the form of couples.
It is known that the Aka Pygmies transmit their musical knowledge exclusively through oral transmission, so they have succeeded in passing it on to the next generation by involving children in rituals as early as possible.
There have been significant changes in the lifestyle of the Aka Pygmies due to the changes that are occurring right now in the Central African Republic, thus effects on their lifestyles have been drastic.
It has been suggested that forest clearance proceeds to a decline in wildlife, and rural exodus and the devaluing of their heritage for the benefit of the tourism industry are some of the factors contributing to the gradual extinction of many of their traditional customs, rituals and skills.