The traditions and culture of music in Africa The traditions and culture of music in

Why Study Other Cultures?

But First… The African continent comprises of approximately 20 percent of the world's land mass and has a population of roughly 1.223 billion people, according to a census completed on July 1, 2016.

North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa East West Central South There are 5 main regions of cultural music associated with Africa, as studied by Western Musicologists. North Africa Sub-Saharan Africa East West Central South

A Background of Cultural Significance Musical traditions are extremely varied through out the continent. Traditional music varies by region as well as by tribe. Music and dance traditionally are so integral a part of life that they cannot not be seen as separate from everyday living, so much so that many African cultures have no separate word for music.

Eastern Africa Music consists of rich rhythms important in dance as well as everyday life. Some tribes use slow, elegant rhythms while others choose fast rhythms. Clapping accompanies music and dancing throughout this region. In some dances, dancers carry small drums that they play.

Eastern African Instruments Kenyans have traditionally made a wide variety of intricate musical instruments out of gourds, shells, leaves, horns, hides, and other natural materials In more modern times they have used wood, plastic, tin, and iron. Children learn to make instruments with seeds, leaves, shells, or anything they can find.

Eastern African Instruments The Thum is very popular.

Eastern African Instruments The most popular instrument is the drum. Drum ensembles of various-sized drums are often used but usually no more than six drummers participate.

Activity: Independent Research http://www.singingwells.org/ http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/ama-browse.pl

West Africa

West African Culture – the Mali people

West African Culture – the Mali people The Ghana Empire’s golden age began after camels were domesticated Transportation of salt, gold and ivory possible Middle East, North Africa and even Europe. Malian traditions were passed down orally through Music and Storytelling via a person called a Griot

West African Culture – The Griot Court culture thrived in Malian West Africa, giving birth to griots Similar to European Bards Professional historians, story tellers, musicians, advisers, and singers all in one Travel from village to village performing for the people there Traditional songs and stories are memorized and passed down orally from generation to generation Griots still exist and keep oral traditions in West Africa today.

Instruments of West Africa West Arica has the most complex instruments and rhythms on the continent Traditional music is usually performed by ensembles rather than solo singers. .

The kora is a famous musical instrument from West Africa The kora is a famous musical instrument from West Africa. The kora is a lute with 21 strings. Kora players usually come from griot families. Kora

The talking drums of the Yoruba tribe are hour glass shaped drums held under the arm that mimic speech. Yoruban Talking Drum

Djembe The djembe is a large, goblet-shaped hand drum used for solos. It has a higher pitch than the conga

Dagomba Dance Drumming Drumming energizes people to dance at social functions. Music may be for individuals to dance solo or for groups to do traditional choreography. http://sites.tufts.edu/dagomba/

Activity: Independent Research West Africa http://www.growingintomusic.co.uk/mali-and- guinea-music-of/ http://www.our-africa.org/mali/people-culture

Central Africa

Non-Pygmy Music Non-pygmy tribes use many instruments such as zithers makata sticks gongs harps drums lyres

Pygmy Tribes There are many different Pygmy tribes the Twa, Bambuti, Batwa, Bayaka and the Bagyeli 'Ba -' means 'people' The tribes live scattered over a huge area in central and western Africa Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo (Brazzaville), Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Different Pygmy tribes speak different languages, generally related to those of neighboring non- Pygmy peoples. There are a few words which are shared between even widely separated Pygmy tribes, suggesting they may have shared a language in the past, for example the name of the forest spirit, Jengi.

Pygmy Music Traditional music among the Pygmies is vocal and rich in polyphonic harmony. Pygmy songs describe life hunting and gathering, and survival. The elephant- hunting song features split sticks, used to mark time, and a group of men and boys singing in a chorus. The choral music is built up from continuously varied repetitions of a short basic ostinato that takes shape as different voices enter and fill out the texture.

Activity: Independent Research Central Africa http://www.pygmies.org/

Southern Africa

Southern African Music The Khoisan Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Lesotho, and parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique The Khoi and the San Less polyphonic texture than the music of other African regions, both in vocal and instrumental music. Prominent harmonic intervals include parallel fifths and octaves Rhythms less complex than those of Western and Eastern Africa. “Hocket" technique Individual notes of a melody are sung by different musicians, and a technique similar to yodeling.

Isicathamiya The “C” is pronounced with a dental click Secular a cappella choral singing developed in South Africa by migrant Zulu communities Isicathamiya groups sing in four-part harmony, typically led by a tenor soloist Joseph Shabalala and his ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo were the musicians through whom global audiences were exposed to the genre

End of Unit Study Guide Handout Apartheid Documentary

North Africa

Islamic Influence on Northern Africa Strong Arabic influences due to the Islamic expansion during the middle ages. Not considered to be traditional African music Instrumental music is almost always accompanied by Arabic songs. Instruments include the zither and rabab.