Polyphonic means 'many sounds'. In BaAka singing, each person sings their own melody line simultaneously - there might be four, five or even more different interlocking parts all happening at once. Instead of being chaotic, the result is a complex, shimmering sound that seems to come from the forest itself. Singers also use a technique called 'hocketing' where each person sings just a few notes and then pauses while another singer fills the gap - like a musical relay race.
BaAka music is not just for concerts or performances. Singing is woven into everyday life - there are songs for returning from a hunt, songs for healing, songs for celebrating a new baby, and songs for spending time with friends in the evening. Children learn to sing from the moment they are old enough to join in, and there is no sharp line between performers and audience - everyone participates.
One of the most magical BaAka musical traditions is water drumming (called hindewhu). Women and girls wade into a river or stream and drum on the surface of the water with their cupped hands and forearms, creating deep, resonant booming sounds. The water acts like a drum skin. Combined with singing, the effect is unlike anything else in the world.
BaAka music has influenced musicians around the world. In the 1980s and 1990s, recordings of BaAka forest music were shared internationally and inspired artists working across jazz, world music and electronic genres. The BaAka did not change their music to suit outside audiences - the world came to appreciate what was already there.