Africa - Toto

Form and structure

The piece follows a strophic or verse-chorus form with specific sections like Intro, Verse, Chorus, Link, Instrumental, and Outro, each with varying numbers of bars.

Composers

The song was composed by band members David Paich and Jeff Porcaro and recorded by the American rock band Toto in 1981 for their album Toto IV, released in 1982.

Genre

The song belongs to the soft rock genre and features a rock band instrumentation with drum kit, guitars, synthesisers, male lead vocals, and male backing vocals.

Texture

The texture of the song is homophonic, emphasizing melody and accompaniment.

Metre and rhythm

The song is in simple duple time (2/2) with two minim beats in every bar, utilizing distinctive ostinato rhythms with syncopation.

Harmony

The harmony is diatonic, featuring a mixture of root position and inverted chords, with specific chord patterns for different sections like the riff and choruses.

Tonality

The majority of the song is in B major, while the choruses are in A major, contributing to the overall tonal structure of the piece.

Dynamics

The dynamics of the song vary, with most parts being mezzo-forte (moderately loud) and the choruses being forte (loud).

Tempo

The tempo of the song is moderately fast, contributing to the overall feel and energy of the piece.