praisesongs

Praisesongs are songs whose primary function is to extol or credit a person, deity, lineage, community, or event. They are a ceremonial and social art form found in many cultures, often performed at rites of passage, weddings, funerals, public celebrations, or political ceremonies.

Lyrically, praisesongs tend to recount genealogies, achievements, virtues, and divine attributes, with honorific titles and recurring refrain lines or formulas. Musically, they frequently employ repetition, call-and-response, and improvisation by a lead singer supported by a chorus. In many African and diasporic traditions, praise-singers or practitioners preserve memory and reinforce social ties as a central social role.

Praisesongs serve to legitimise authority and status, transmit communal histories, foster social cohesion, and facilitate reciprocal relationships through patronage or alliances. They may appear as standalone performances or as sections within larger ritual or narrative forms. They are adaptable to various contexts, including ceremony, theatre, or contemporary media, and sometimes blend with other musical genres.

Terminology varies by culture, but the general English terms praise song or praisesong describe this category of celebratory, commemorative song. The practice has both traditional forms and modern expressions, reflecting ongoing social and cultural function.