The movie “Amandla” describes the sense of discrimination felt by black South Africans from the late 1940’s through the 1990’s. This movie serves as a testament to the power of music in a society where blacks are so heavily repressed. Throughout the movie, characters show their commitment to the fight against repression through the use of their own cultural music. They decide to partake in a war of abstinence; instead of guns, they use other means to fight against those who have taken their power away. The importance of music in the culture of black South Africans became so powerful that it united the entire community against one central cause. With little to no economic strength, the black population had to use their own resources that cost …show more content…
They create music not only to be listened to but create them to unit their society; they use music in their events a part of a larger social setting. As seen in this film, the black population used music as their main weapon to unite and end apartheid. The black population came together in a large social setting and used their music to express their lives, feelings, and what they were going through. Music was performed during riots, funerals, allies, and in times of celebration. All the music that was sung was significant to their culture. The type of music they were singing was a specific style that connects with Sub-Saharan African music. The use of the polyphonic texture was prevalent in the music featured in the film. In the song “Beware Verwoerd” you could hear different voices entering at different times through out the song. Some of the individual voices were heard singing in their head voice and transitioning to their chest voice and this type of singing is used in frequently throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Another aspect of the songs in Amandla! was the use of repetition in their lyrics. This gives the freedom to change the rhythm of the song using the same lyrics to express different emotions. During the funeral of a youth presented in the film, the song “Senzeni Na?” was altered to become a call and response structure and gave freedom in adding phrases within the song (Nkoala 57). One of the women who attended the burial was chanting within the song how she felt about the passing of her loved one – she expressed the inequalities they were facing and how she is frustrated with what South Africa has become (Hirsch, Amandla!). The simple lyrics and rhythm of the music allows for freedom to tweak the music according to emotion felt during that specific time of
Moreover, the task at hand is not one that is easily accomplished. In order for music to be a hit, it had to be a hit within the white community. The ...
Music is an art and a wonderful gift to human race. It soothes, stimulates and makes us feel happy. It affects our moods in many different ways from lullaby to war cry for changes in the society. Music is actually distinct to different people. Above all, it has a transformational importance that is captured in its art and nature. Music draws our emotions and it has an impact of bridging different cultures across the continents. Slave songs were very vital channels through which all kind of information was conveyed both positive and negative.
According to Albert Murray, the African-American musical tradition is “fundamentally stoical yet affirmative in spirit” (Star 3). Through the medium of the blues, African-Americans expressed a resilience of spirit which refused to be crippled by either poverty or racism. It is through music that the energies and dexterities of black American life are sounded and expressed (39). For the black culture in this country, the music of Basie or Ellington expressed a “wideawake, forward-tending” rhythm that one can not only dance to but live by (Star 39).
“How Musical is Man?” was published in 1974. This book was written by John Blacking, a musician turned social anthropologist. His goal in writing this ethnography, and several other papers during this same time period, was to compare the experience of music-making that takes place within different cultures and societies throughout the world. In this book, he discusses and describes the musicology of the Venda people in South Africa. Though he does go to Africa to research and learn about the Venda people and their music, he specifically states that his book is “not a scholarly study of human musicality” (ix), but rather it is a summary (written from his point of view), which is both expressive and entertaining, of several different issues and ideas that he has seemingly been contemplating for some time.
Angeles, Los. (2009). African arts. Volume 28. Published by African Studies Center, University of California.
Music played a very important role in the lives of people is diaspora communities. It served as a reminder for the immigrants of their homeland, which allowed them to proudly express their national and cultural identities. Diaspora refers to an international network of communities linked together by the identification of a common ancestral homeland and culture. People in these communities are no longer living in their homelands, with no guarantee of a return either. (Bakan, 19). Music played a large role in African diaspora communities. This was first started by the slave trades many years ago when slave traders traveled to the coast of West Africa to capture Africans and brought them back to the United States to be slaves on plantations. Slaves were more prone to loose a sense of their own culture because every new aspect of their lives was forced upon them, therefore they were undoubtedly forced to abandon their n...
Music often carries information about community knowledge, aesthetics, or perspectives. Toni Morrison discusses the power of music and the way it functions in culture in discussions of her craft. Symbolic and structural elements of music appear throughout all of Toni Morrison’s fiction in one way or another. (Obadike) As mentioned above, the title itself, draws attention to the world-renowned music created by African Americans in the 1920s’ as well as to the book’s jazz-like narrative structure and themes.
Throughout the semester, various styles of music and the aspects of culture associated with these styles have been analyzed. Musical elements such as dynamics, texture, form, timbre, melody, instruments, etc., have been used to thoroughly explore each kind of music from different areas of the world, with an emphasis in music from Africa, India and Indonesia. These aspects of music go far beyond just music itself. Culture also plays a huge role in music and the accompanying musical elements. Each country and culture has a different style and distinctiveness that add to what makes the music of that certain culture unique. Music in Africa may differ dramatically from music in Indonesia or India not only due to those certain elements but also due to how it is interpreted by people and what it represents for those people. In addition to this, what one may consider music in one culture may not be music to another. These differences have been made apparent in the several demonstrations that we have been exposed to in class.
There are a number of competing entities that want to take credit for the origins of the slide used in guitar playing. The Hawaiian influence can not be denied. But it is known that in West Africa a string attached to a gourd was played with a bow and the pitch changed by sliding a bone on the string.
Kwaito music, perhaps the most important genre of music to materialize in post-apartheid South Africa, is commonly referred to as South African hip-hop. South African hip-hop originated in the 1990’s, shortly after Nelson Mandela was elected president. “Mandoza [a popular Kwaito singer] says this is no coincidence. After years of struggle, youngsters craved for a way to enjoy the freedom. Kwaito provides just that” (Lob 1). A popular hip-hop group, Prophets of da City, from Cape Town, South Africa were deeply drawn to ideology of American hip-hop, particularly artists such as Ice-T, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Easy-E. Prophets of da City were able to relate to the messages that were displayed in the text of their songs regarding discrimination, violence and poverty. Prior to the election of Nelson Mandela, the people of apartheid South Africa were refined by political boundaries. As a result of the Separate Development Act, blacks were not allowed to socialize with individuals outside of their native tribe. Their government believed that maintaining boundaries was essential to maintaining proper balance. “Radio stations had different broadcasting systems for each ethnic group.” (Mhlambi 4). As if the inability to listen to a preferred radio station was not enough to add insult to injury, the radio stations were also heavily censored. Kwaito, which translates to the word “angry” in English, was considered an act of rebellion against political restrictions. The first Kwaito hit, written by Mafokate, detests the use of the word kaffir, a negative term that is used to refer to a black African. The text of the song “is a perfect illustration of freedom of expression that developed as a result of political change” (Mhlambi 4). Kwaito music ...
Music before the 20th century was very different when compared to the music of the 21st Century. There were distinctive occasions for each type of African music. West African music, the African Diaspora, and the music of the Colonies each had different musical instruments.
...d was highly practiced because of the importance it had and brought to special events such as wedding ceremonies, funerals, initiation rites and daily work. That is why it is important to realize that in South Africa’s history, from the very first moment the Europeans set foot in South Africa, attacks were made on the real, customary, and practiced music of the African people. Thus, at certain stages in South African history, music was being banned and degraded because of its importance.
Music is “The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre” ( Farlex, Inc 2013). Caribbean music has its own unique history, is very diverse with each island having its own unique genre of music. With so many different types of music out there and different performing artists these artists are looking for ways to make money by becoming popular.
Standing in direct contrast to the desire for a unified Africa is portrayal of immediate community by the music of dancehall. It is claimed that hopes for a unified Africa no longer remains a theme for inspiration among the current dancehall artists. Chude-Sokei argues, "With raggamuffin sound, which currently dominates the ideologies of Afro-Caribbean youth and black Third World pop/ghetto culture, one is challenged to find references to the mythic signifier of black identity that is Africa.
Music has played a role in society since the dawn of man. Said to be the beginning of communication in early civilization, music and dance have influenced how we think, act and treat members of our own society. Song and dance is used in rites of passage ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals throughout the world. Jamaican and Yoruba cultures have made many contributions to our society. The uses of this music as a vehicle for political issues, values, and beliefs have been used by many musicians from different cultures. I intend to discuss the Contribution of these two contemporary cultures music and their effect on society.