Traditional african music is gender specific as some instruments could only be played by men for instance the Orutu of the luo

African traditional instruments showed a part of the livelihood of the people because of the materials used to make them......for instance indegineous isukuti drums' membrane was made of the skin of a monitor lizard this shows the people could go hunting and appreciated art as well.

African music instruments created a connection between language an d music as the sounds produced immitated those in the human language and relayed a specific message. For instance the siiriri of the luhya produces a sound similar to that of a person starining due to pain and we also have the talking drums, and isukuti drums show communication in a family set up when the rhythms of the drums respond to each other.

African music instruments also were played in a repetitive continuous rhythm which complimented the rhythm of the other instrument accompanying the dance or folksong this was brought about the instruments being played by people who learnt them either through apprenticeship or participation or involvement the playing of a repetitive constant rhythm by a single instrument brought about the polyphony in the song and hocketing comes out clearly.

African instruments were also performed in responsorial role with the other instruments accompanying the dance or the performers' voices.