Kizomba is a genre of dance and a Portuguese-language musical genre originating in Angola in 1984. Kizomba means 'party' in Kimbundu, a Bantu language spoken in Angola.
The origins of kizomba can be traced to late-1970s Africa, with influences variably attributed to Angola. Kizomba is characterised by a slower, romantic, more sensuous rhythm than the traditional Angolan semba dance. Kizomba music emerged as a more modern music genre with a sensual touch mixed with African rhythm. Most kizomba songs are sung in Portuguese.
Semba has been danced in the 1950s in Angola. In the 1990s, when the actual kizomba music got more and more popular, Angolan semba dancers started to adapt their semba steps according to the tempo and flavour of the Kizomba beats. The Kizomba dance is a couple dance from which many styles such as, tarraxinha and Urban kiz derived from.