Traditional African Music

1592 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How colonialism affected african culture

Traditional African Music

An attempt to pin down a single meaning for the word 'traditional,' presents a problem in many ways. The implications of the word are many, and are tied to various connotations. Some people, Westerners in particular, may actually shun the 'traditional,' as they feel that it implies a resistance to modernity. This view is incorrect, and there exists an ethnocentric double standard when Westerners consider their tradition versus African tradition. Others focus on 'tradition' as that which has always been done, for whatever reason, and that it must be continued to maintain the community, a universal balance, a relationship with the gods, or some other goal. Africa and its people have experienced many hardships over the course of history, from colonization to current attempts at development. Oppression, forced enslavement or other forms of brutality have been constant threats. These dangers have helped create a stronger African identity in many senses. Difficult times bring out in humans a desire to cling to that which is known and familiar, as everything else seems to spiral out of control. As many slaves journeyed across the Middle Passage, for example, they disregarded language and ethnic barriers, and collaborated to make music as an escape from the horrors of their circumstances, in order to create a tie to the homeland. Groups such as the Tumbuka and Dagbamba have also done this. They have managed to retain a strong identity, partially due to the continued use of musical practices; paradoxically, this has tied them to ancestral practices, but also made the transition to modernity easier. In dealing with societies where that which is modern is completely foreign and different from customary, holdin...

... middle of paper ...

... Instead, it is multifaceted and complex. Contrary to what many believe, the retention of traditional practices and a transition to a modern state are not mutually exclusive. The role that tradition and customary behavior and practice play in society depends heavily on the situation and the individual reckoning of the importance of maintaining traditional musical practices, the value placed on time and its rationing, and the possible symbiotic relationship between the modern and the traditional. The analysis of how these three seemingly unrelated concepts interact with each other forms a basis for understanding the extent to which ?traditional? musical elements will be accepted or rejected by a particular society. ?Tradition? does not entail backwardness or inability to react to changes, but rather a continued respect for those who came before and their way of life.

Show More
Related

  • Ethnomusicology Summary

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ethnomusicology: a short introduction is about describing the growing discipline of how ethnomusicology researchers are going about studying different music from around the world, looking for perceptions in both humanity and music. Ethnomusicologists believe that all people are musical, not just people that label themselves as “musicians” and that there is music in all beings. This thinking causes a lot of debate in which ethnomusicologists argue that we must first study all forms of music such as its Geographic’s and history in order to answer any questions. Not only are traditional forms of music acknowledged but also more contemporary musical forms.

    Read More

  • 1960-1970 Research Paper

    471 Words  | 1 Pages

    For a long time, music has represented the events occurring in the society. This paper discusses the relationships between music and the various eras from 1960.

    Read More

  • African Music Field Songs

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    a. Field hollers: Field song that followed a “call and response” mechanism. When one started the song, others would join in rhythmic tone of the call.

    Read More

  • Music And Music In Sub-Saharan African Music

    1735 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Hawaiian Music And Cultural Appropriation

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music is something everyone listens to and connects with on a daily basis while cultural appropriation in its own right is not exactly something new; especially when talking to minorities across the world. But musical appropriation is rarely talked about as much as cultural appropriation as a whole, because it is often perceived as a byproduct of cultural awareness instead of an issue of cultural appropriation. Music in one form or another has been a part of multiple cultures since before modern societies were even in place and a reality (Einstein 7). Musical styles help to separate cultures, with each culture having its own styling and beat with which to be recognized but as the world has grown closer together culturally, so have the different

    Read More

  • How Musical Is Man By John Blacking

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • African Music of the Rastafari, the Rasta Community, the Dreads

    4348 Words  | 9 Pages

    Nyabinghi music played at Rastafarian grounations, which includes drumming of at least three hand drums, chanting, dancing, spiritual use of the holy herb, and praise to Jah Rastafari, are considered the most important and inspirational meeting of Rastafari. The term "nyabinghi" is said to have come from a religious, spiritual, and political movement in East Africa beginning in the 1850’s until the 1950 led by a series of spiritually influential women and focused on military actions against white imperialists and colonialists.

    Read More

  • African Music

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    When trying to compare and contrast the music-culture and society of the Mbuti and that of the Venda, it becomes difficult to comment on sound when we haven't heard any Venda music. It's easy to recognize that for the Mbuti the music embodies the heart of the forest, and for the Venda the relation to nature is the act of a mother giving birth. Thinking about concept and behavior this makes the music performed by the two cultures separate and distinguishable. This is where culture and environment become important factors. How noticeable is this when listening to the music of both peoples? When given the opportunity to listen, without a trained ear, it would be difficult to find differences in the sound of the music. There are obvious differences in instrumentation between the two cultures.

    Read More

  • African Drums In Africa

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tuning is a very important part when it comes to the making of the Djembe. After securing the verticals, a djembe is tuned by making twists in the verticals to reduce them. When there is more than one finished row of spirals, the vertical line forms diamond shapes that can be very stylish. The amount of tension that can be applied this way is considerable. A djembe tuned to solo pitch usually has a tone frequency of 400 Hz.

    Read More

  • Culture And Cultural Identity In Music And Culture

    1608 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the early time of human civilization, each and every ethnics that exist in this world, majority of them have come to express their culture identity through the form of music. For instance, during the ancient time of human life, societies used music as a way to gather people around the community in order to express their beliefs in terms of myths and history, ethnical background as well as cultural believes that has been foretold throughout generations within their communities.

    Read More

  • Comparison of African, Indonesian, and Indian Music

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • MUS 380: Music Tradition In West Africa

    1528 Words  | 4 Pages

    (Introduction page VI) When discussing musical traits of West Africa, it is explained as- Music and dance are a whole that cannot be separated – actually, there is no separate word for the two in most African languages. Music is considered communal and participatory, an oral tradition, rhythm privileged over melody and harmony as well as wide variety of instruments, especially percussion (ppt). Africa being the second most populous and second largest continent their musical traditions are noticeable by an array that reveals ethnic, national, and regional diversities. Music is primarily based on the indigenous traditions.

    Read More

  • History Of Music

    2523 Words  | 6 Pages

    Music as a whole has had a gradual evolution throughout history. The tie between Man’s search for the unknown, quest for Truth and longing for spiritual fulfillment and the Arts is undeniable. Reactionary, or ‘pro-actionary’ music ties us tight to places or events both in our lives and in those of others. While architecture and artifacts can give us clues to what society was like in the past (Roman ruins tell us much about life two thousand years ago), it is only the music that can communicate what our predecessors were thinking or feeling. It is the poets, the dreamers and artists of old who were the architects of their future, which allow us to glimpse our past. And it has been said, to know where one is going, you must know where you came from.

    Read More

  • African Drumming Research Paper

    430 Words  | 1 Pages

    African culture has a deep respect for music and rhythm. They feel that rhythm is life and signifies how human relationships create the very fabric of our meaning. Cross beats create tension but different parts working together can be a great way of creating the whole. When creating rhythm, African music often relies on shakers or the double bell - an instrument made of iron and creating two different tones.

    Read More

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

    1327 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.

    Read More

More about Traditional African Music

Open Document