(1)In sub-Saharan African music, rhythm is the most important factor. Polymeter, polyrhythm, and cross-rhythm are characteristics of African music. The so-called polyrhythm refers to the use of more than one beat at the same time in the band's works. Each instrument or group of instruments highlights a unique rhythm pattern within its own rhythmic framework, without paying attention to the overall cooperation, thus producing a rhythmic pattern. Dissonant or rhythmic polyphony. The rhythmic structure of sub-Saharan African music is very developed, complex and varied. The seemingly very complex rhythms of black African music are actually produced by the constant "alternation" or "conflict" of extremely simple rhythms. The music of sub-Saharan Africa focuses on rhythm changes, the melody is simple and constantly repeated, and the emphasis is generally not on the first beat. Strong, unrestrained and complex rhythmic music is a major contribution of black Africans to world music. There are many different musical scales in sub-Saharan Africa, with the heptatonic scale being the dominant one. From the perspective of the composition of musical sounds, it can be divided into equal-tone scales and non-equal-tone scales. There are two types of musical intervals: equidistant and unequal.

(2)① African drum

There are many types of African musical instruments, the most representative of which is the drum. The drum is the basis of African music rhythm and the most important instrument for expressing musical language. Known as the soul of African traditional music, it has a god-like lofty status.

②Marimba

Marimba is a xylophone with a chime. It has a broad pronunciation and a long reverberation. There are chirping bodies made of various fruit shells, gourds, cans, rectangular wooden boxes, etc. under the piano board. When playing, the sound is transmitted from the piano board to the chiming body. Produces a special ringing effect.

③Mbira

Mbira is a reed instrument played with fingers. Its structure is to tie slender reeds of different lengths together. On the wooden board, and with a wooden box or dry gourd underneath it as a piano, people call it a "thumb piano".