The word 'kuduro' comes from Portuguese and means 'hard bottom' — a reference to the stiff, angular way the dancers hold their bodies. The movements look sharp and mechanical, but performing them well actually takes great skill and practice. Kuduro dancers often invent their own signature moves.
Kuduro music is made with electronic synthesisers, drum machines and samples, mixed with Portuguese and Kimbundu lyrics. The tempo is extremely fast — sometimes over 130 beats per minute. DJ Znobia and Titica are among the Angolan artists who helped make kuduro famous internationally.
Kuduro spread from the streets of Luanda to dance clubs across Europe, especially in Portugal, and then to the rest of the world. International artists have sampled kuduro beats, and the style has influenced electronic music far beyond Angola. It is a fantastic example of how a city's street culture can become a global phenomenon.