Classes of African

Musicians

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African music is an integral part of life

and is linked with the world view of the
society in which it is produce. Music is
played for social, ritual and ceremonial
functions. Within in this there are three
classifications of musicians:
Professional, semi-professional, and
recreational.

Its impossible to be thorough in a

Quarter-long Survey Course

There are always multifarious elements in action

shaping musical culture. There is also tension
between desires to maintain tradition and the
inevitability of change. Both traditional music
and the music marked by changes caused by
both coercion and curiosity reveal the history of
societies

Music as a Reflection of History

Influences on African Music

Basil Davidson films introduce elements of

modern African history that impact upon
African culture and music.

Music as a Reflection of History

From the beginning of the course we have discussed
ways in which the environment that surrounds
music has a tremendous impact on its development.
In the Rhythms of Resistance - we also saw the
difference ways that disparate political and social
situations in the same environment yield different
results, as with the musicians who focused on
rhythms of resistance in the South Africa
(Khoisan Area) versus those who chose to embrace
the mainstream.

Music as a Reflection of History

We can measure the difference that varying degrees of
cultural stability, isolation, and/or migration have on
music. Those who retain qualities of traditional
African music will be fairly obvious. We can
examined the difference between the erosion of
musical tradition on the African mainland as
opposed to the almost complete eradication of
traditional roots on most islands around the
continent.

Music as a Reflection of History

The gradual transference of music, language,

knowledge, goods and culture occurs through
trade, proximity, and travel. This involved
movement gradually from Indian Ocean
(Zanzibar, etc.) and the sahel of the Eastern
Cattle Area, into and across the Savanna
(Ethiopia, Eritrea, etc.) to the Sudan Area desert
(Sudan, Chad, etc.), then into the savanna - or the
other sahel - and forests of the Guinea Coast
(Mali, Burkina Fausa, Niger, etc.).

The Sahel

The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic

zone of transition between the Sahara desert in
the North and the Sudanian savannas in the
south. It stretches across the north of the African
continent between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Red Sea . The Sahel covers parts of the
countries of Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina
Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Somalia,
Ethiopia, and Eritrea.

Professional Musicians

Griots

"Griots are the most

philosophical and
the laziest people in
the world.
- French Novelist,
Pierre Loti

Griots typically perform alone, accompanying themselves on a

stringed instrument. They are considered by many musicologists
a critical African root of the solo acoustic blues that developed
among African American communities during the early 20th
century.
Griots, or jalis, are praise-singers, historians, and so of course tell
the important stories of the culture. In the past, the griot was a
revered member of a clan whose task was the memorization of
births and deaths, marriages, wars, hunts, and clan history. They
often spoke for the king of village chief, who would whisper in the
ear of a griot who would then deliver the message loudly for all to
hear. Griots were in service for all.
Today, no traditional gathering, such as a wedding, baptism, or
child naming, is complete without one or more griots to speak on
behalf of each family involved and to provide entertainment.
There is no set reward for their services and they rely on the gifts
of their patrons.

There are women jalis,

called jalimusolu, some of
whom are today like
superstars. In Mali,
female griot singing stars
include Ami Koita, Kandia
Kouyat, and Tata Bambo
Kouyat, all of whom
have released many
volumes of cassettes on
the local market.

JuJu

Juju music originated in Nigeria

and was derived from more
traditional forms of African
music, although it evolved
directly from Highlife music.
It is one of the most popular
forms of music in Nigeria with
musicians like King Sunny Ade
and I.K. Dairo, who was
credited with being the first
Juju star. It is based on
traditional Yoruba rhythms
although it has adopted more
modern instruments such as
drum kits, electric guitars, and
keyboards.

Highlife
Highlife music is dance music that originated in
Ghana and Eastern Nigeria. It is derived from the
popular kpanlogo rhythm from Ghana.
Highlife music has influenced other forms of
modern African music and the popular Juju music
was derived from it. It is characterized by its jazzy
sound, incorporating modern western style
instruments, such as electric guitars,
synthesizers, trumpets and saxophones.
Both Juju and Highlife music are professional
forms of music as opposed to some of the more
spontaneous or traditional music of the smaller
villages.

Semi-Professional Musicians

Semiprofessional musicians earn a living via music

for only a fraction of the year while relying on a
more consistent occupation for the remainder of the
year. Thus music is just a minor portion of a
semiprofessional musicians livelihood but they use
their passion for music to extra money.

Bambara

The Bambara farmers of the Upper Volta (Burkina Faso)

tend to their crops for a portion of the year, and spend the
rest of year as musicians. Formerly Upper Volta (part
of French West Africa 1896-1960), Burkina Faso is a
small, poor, landlocked country with great linguistic
and ethnic diversity

Bambara farmers in Upper Volta perform at festivals, during

seasons, at which villagers pay the musicians for their effo

Senufo Orchestras

The Senufo orchestras are musical communities

assembled on the basis of caste or trade. For
example, there are Senufo orchestras consisting
of Blacksmiths
Music occupies a portion of the semiprofessional
musicians life, where the other portion is occupied
by something which holds equal regularity in the
musicians life.

Generally Speaking of SemiProfessional Musicians

Semi professionals are praised and became an important part of

their society, and their trade can become somewhat hereditary;
for example a grandfather who played the drums may pass that
spirit and skill down to a grandson when he dies.
If there is an audience around when they perform, they become
participants and a musical stage is usually set up, thus allowing
the solo performer to be become a semi-professional in
presentation.
In the Ewe culture it is a good thing to be a musician and
performer. Semi-professional status does not elevate one to the
level of high prestige or pay equivalent to a professional musician
In areas of Ghana, and in other regions of the Guinea Coast, there
are music professional specialists that perform music and dance
for the community.

Non-Professional
Musicians

Spontaneous Village Music

Music is spontaneously produced within a

village for many purposes. A festival,
collective activity, or group labor activity,
such as building bridges, and clearing paths
may result in spontaneous music by nonprofessional members of society. Singing
and participating in spontaneous music is a
way for the village to build community, and
encourage collective work within diverse
members.

Pygmies

Music is an intricate part of the Pygmy culture. Vocal music

is typically polyphonic and rarely exceeds a few syllables.
Some of the polyphonic devices that are utilized in Pygmy
music include parallel fifth movement, improvised melismas,
melodic imitation, decorated pedal-notes, persistent motifs,
and contrapuntal variations.
Because the Pygmies are a highly nomadic group, typically
only a few percussive instruments and a whistle are used

Simultaneous variation on a melody results in

polyphonic music that musicologist call
heterophonic.

Bushmen
The 'Bushmen' are the oldest inhabitants
of southern
Africa, where they have lived for at least
20,000 years.
Their home is in the vast expanse of the
Kalahari desert.
By the 1870s the last Bushmen of
the Cape were hunted to near extinction.
Letters and diaries exist in which
eighteenth and nineteenth century
American and European travelers in the
American south recorded their
impressions of the "wild and primitive"
music of black slaves (some being
descendents of the Bushmen). All,
however, dismissed the music as a
curious and bizarrely
spontaneous expression of a primitive
people.

!Kung

The !Kung are another example of

non-professional musicians in
Africa. The !Kung are one of three
main Bushmen tribes

Music is a highly intricate part of

their culture and is played on all
occasions all day. The two most
common instruments used by
the !Kung are the sanza, which
is only played by men, and the
one-stringed fiddle that is played
by both males and females
They are thought to possibly be
the most proficient musicians in
South Africa