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Sebene
Congolese rumba instrumental section / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sebene, also known as seben, is an instrumental section commonly played in Congolese rumba.[2][3] It is usually played towards the end of the song and is the dancing section where the lead and rhythm guitars take the lead in the dance.[4][5][6][7] It is characterized by the repetition of a specific number of notes during the passage of second chords: one major chord and one-seventh chord, which gives rise to the Lingala derivation "sebene," derived from the English numeral "seven" or its ordinal rendition.[8]
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Guitarists use a combination of lead and rhythm guitar to produce a distinct sound that is accompanied by vocalists, including an atalaku who energetically engages the audience and may call out to sponsors.[9][10][11] The use of arpeggios, rapid chord changes, atalaku, and melodic embellishments is extensive in sebene and gives Congolese rumba a dynamic and energetic rhythm.[9][10][11]