of experiencing West African music, both traditional and contemporary (especially gospel music), is physical expression through dance. Dances are commonly named after the musical tunes which they follow, such as Yankadi, which originated in Southwest Guinea. This is a slow dance which has an emphasis on seduction; two rows of men and women face one another and dance with an emphasis on eye contact and 'touching each other's hands and heart region'. This develops into Makru, a faster-paced element of this courting dance which is danced separate from one's partner. In many regions in West Africa, traditional dance is considered to be a part of language, a way to translate and communicate experiences. Dance is also a way by which different linguistic and cultural groups can represent and distinguish themselves. For example, the Mbalax dance is a significant cultural hallmark of Senegal, and the Bata dance is traditional to the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria. Most traditional dances throughout West Africa are designated to a specific gender, requiring careful practice and coordination in order for a dancer to fully express the meaning behind a given dance. For example, the Mbalax dance holds its origins as a part of ndut rite of passage ceremonies and is thus traditionally valued as a sacred process. Countries Music of Benin Music of Burkina Faso Music of Cape Verde Music of The Gambia Music of Ghana Music of Guinea Music of Guinea-Bissau Music of Ivory Coast Music of Liberia Music of Mali Music of Mauritania Music of Niger Music of Nigeria Music of Senegal Music of Sierra Leone Music of Togo References General references Coester, M. (2008). Localising African Popular Music Transnationally: 'Highlife-Travellers' in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Journal of African Cultural Studies, 20(2), 133–144. Agawu, V. K. (1987). The Rhythmic Structure of West African Music. The Journal of Musicology, 5(3), 400–418. Robotham, D. K. (18 January 2002). African music. Retrieved 19 March 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/art/African-music Nketia, J. (1957). Modern Trends in Ghana Music. African Music, 1(4), 13–17. West African music