Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig, volg ons die maatslag.

Selfs al means even if or even though, depending on context. It introduces a concessive idea: something is true despite something else.

So in this sentence, Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig sets up the idea even if/even though the dance tempo is fast.

A useful thing to remember:

• al on its own can sometimes mean already or all, but in selfs al it is part of a fixed expression.

After selfs al, Afrikaans uses a clause with normal verb-second / verb-early structure, so the finite verb is comes before the subject die danstempo.

That is why you get:

• Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig

and not:

• Selfs al die danstempo is vinnig

This is similar to other Afrikaans patterns where the verb comes early in a subordinate-type clause introduced by certain expressions.

Yes, danstempo is one word. Afrikaans often forms compound nouns by joining words together.

Here:

• dans = dance
• tempo = tempo

So danstempo = dance tempo.

This is very common in Afrikaans. English often writes such things as two words, but Afrikaans frequently combines them into one.

Die is the definite article in Afrikaans, meaning the.

So:

• die danstempo = the dance tempo
• die maatslag = the beat

Afrikaans uses die for the regardless of gender, so you do not have to learn separate words like masculine/feminine forms.

Here vinnig means fast because it describes the noun phrase die danstempo through the verb is.

So:

• die danstempo is vinnig = the dance tempo is fast

In other contexts, vinnig can also function like quickly:

• Hy hardloop vinnig = He runs quickly

Afrikaans often uses the same form for adjective and adverb, unlike English.

It is a straightforward main clause:

• volg = follow
• ons = we
• die maatslag = the beat

So literally:

• follow we the beat

But natural English is:

• we follow the beat

Afrikaans main clauses typically place the finite verb in the second position, which is why volg comes before ons here.

Because the sentence begins with another clause:

• Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig, ...

When a main clause follows an introductory clause or phrase, Afrikaans keeps the verb in second position. That means the finite verb comes before the subject:

• Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig, volg ons die maatslag.

If the sentence stood alone without the opening clause, you would normally say:

• Ons volg die maatslag.

This is a very important Afrikaans word-order rule.

Maatslag refers to the beat or meter in music or dance. In this sentence, it means the rhythmic beat that people keep to while dancing.

So volg ons die maatslag means we keep following the beat/rhythm.

Depending on context, a translation might be:

• the beat
• the rhythm
• the meter

The comma separates the introductory concessive clause from the main clause:

• Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig, = subordinate/introduction
• volg ons die maatslag. = main clause

This is similar to English punctuation in sentences like:

• Even though the tempo is fast, we follow the beat.

It can often be understood as either, depending on context.

• even if emphasizes possibility or condition
• even though emphasizes concession despite a fact

In this sentence, since the tempo actually seems to be fast, English might naturally use even though:

• Even though the dance tempo is fast, we follow the beat.

But learners should recognize that selfs al can overlap with both ideas.

Yes. Afrikaans does not distinguish between we and us in form here; both are ons.

Examples:

• Ons volg die maatslag. = We follow the beat.
• Hy sien ons. = He sees us.

You work out the meaning from the sentence structure.

If you break it into simpler parts, you get:

• Die danstempo is vinnig. = The dance tempo is fast.
• Ons volg die maatslag. = We follow the beat.

Then the full sentence combines them:

• Selfs al is die danstempo vinnig, volg ons die maatslag.

This helps show two key features:

• selfs al introduces the first clause
• the main clause changes to verb + subject order after that introduction

Yes, it is grammatical and natural. The main things that make it sound natural are:

• the fixed expression selfs al
• correct placement of is
• correct inversion in the main clause: volg ons
• normal use of compound nouns like danstempo

A learner mainly needs to notice the word order, because that is the part most different from English.