Chapter 10 - Sub-Saharan Africa
Note: Click tabs below to toggle content
About
Chapter 10 introduces the music and associated cultural activities from Sub-Saharan Africa, including the countries of Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Senegal-Gambia, the Republic of South Africa, as well as the central rainforests of the continent. The fundamental concepts of polyrhythm as it applies to African music, as well as call and response vocal form, are a theme throughout the chapter. Numerous instruments, such as the atumpan and gangan drums, mbira dza vadzimu (lamellophone), akadinda (xylophone),and kora (lute-harp) are discussed along with vocal performance, such as is common to pygmy populations of central Africa, as well asmbube vocal choirs of South Africa. Juju, a popular music from Nigeria, is introduced, along with the successful group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which has helped bring much attention to the music of South Africa in particular.
Key Terms
- Afirikyiwa
- Afrikaner
- Akadinda
- Amadinda
- Apartheid
- Apremprensemma
- Atumpan
- Balafon
- Bantu
- Bira
- Birimintingo
- Call and Response
- Candomblé
- Cross-rhythm
- Density referent
- Dondo
- Griot
- Highlife
- Hosho
- Isicathamiya
- Jali (also Jeli, pl. Jalolu)
- Juerga
- Juju
- Kalimba
- Kora
- Kushaura
- Koni
- Kumbengo
- Kutsinhira
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Likembe
- Maraca
- Mbira
- Mbira dza vadzimu
- Mbube
- Palm Wine guitar
- Polyrhythm
- Pygmies
- Rhythmic melody
- Santeria
- Shaka Zulu
- Tomtom
- Vodou (also Voodoo)
- Xylophone
Flashcards
Practice Quiz
Interactive Listening Guides
Videos
For more world music videos, visit the World Music YouTube Channel.
- Adowa Music & Dance
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Hxv6lNn8GHA
- Heartbeat of Ghana
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCtQFeyiwbE
- Gasco’s Drum and Dance Group
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jZFFN460u4
- Kpanlogo Drum Lessons (1 of 2)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klYQJ_jNoDs
- Kpanlogo Drum Lessons (2 of 2)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me_vqBj8Ql8
- African Rhythm Guitar Demonstration
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htUBRdOXTJ0
- Baka Music House
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji6APnBLCoI
- Pygmy Dancers in Uganda
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOceeyD0iRU
- Pygmies Dance Jazz
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60004FZ2bes
- Welcome Ceremony in Byumba Village
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFzfuqo2A_I
- Voices of Africa through the Mbira
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A65rpKJGHiI
- Konkolikan Sambla Baan Burkina Faso
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KarChRDf8mY
- Ketama/SongHai with Toumani Diabate on Kora
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lep1tjEIkJc
- Pygmy Tribal Dance
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=wVGK_kGOhcI
On Your Own Time Links
Links and Further Resources
Africa
- Book:
- Chernoff, John Miller. African Rhythm and African Sensibility: Aesthetics and Social Action in African Musical Idioms. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981.
- http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo3638026.html
- Book:
- Stone, Ruth. The Garland Handbook of African Music. New York: Routledge, 2008.
- http://www.routledge.com/9780415961028/
- Website:
- The African Music Encyclopedia
- http://africanmusic.org/
- Website:
- Afropop Worldwide
- http://www.afropop.org/
- Audio:
- Asante Kete Drumming—Music of Ghana. Lyrichord: LYRCD 7454, 2007.
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/asante-kete-drumming-music/id268781221
- Audio:
- Rhythm of Life, Songs of Wisdom—Akan Music from Ghana, West Africa. Smithsonian-Folkways: SFW 40463, 1996.
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rhythms-life-songs-wisdom/id82056000
- Book:
- Younge, Paschal Yao. Music and Dance Traditions of Ghana: History, Performance and Teaching. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Inc., 2011.
- http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-4992-7
- Website:
- Ghana Nation
- http://www.ghananation.com
- Popular Artists from Ghana:
- E.T. Mensah
- Koo Nimo
- George Darko
- Book:
- Waterman, Christopher. Juju: A Social History and Ethnography of an African Popular Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.
- http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/J/bo3774389.html
- Website:
- Fela.net (Dedicated to Fela Kuti, Founder of Afrobeat music)
- http://www.fela.net/
- Website/Audio:
- King Sunny Ade—Juju Music
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/juju-music/id340558
- Popular Artists from Nigeria and Benin:
- Angélique Kidjo
- King Sunny Adé
- Fela Kuti
- Segun Adewale
- Sir Shina Peters
- Sir Victor Uwaifo
- Book:
- Duffy, Kevin. Children of the Forest: Africa's Mbuti Pygmies. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, 1995.
- http://www.waveland.com/browse.php?t=124&r=a|30
- Website:
- African Pygmies.org
- http://www.pygmies.org/
- Popular Artists from Central Africa:
- Franco & OK Jazz
- Papa Wemba
- Awilo Longomba
- Audio:
- Shona Mbira Music. Nonesuch Records: H-72077, 1977.
- http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/zimbabwe-shona-mbira-music
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/zimbabwe-shona-mbira-music/id40582109
- Book:
- Berliner, Paul. The Soul of the Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe.
- Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978.
- http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo3644709.html
- Website:
- Mbira.org
- http://www.mbira.org/
- Popular Artists from Zimbabwe:
- Dumisani Maraire
- Ephat Mujuru
- Khiama Boys
- Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi
- Audio:
- Royal Court Music from Uganda. SWP Records: SWP008, 1998.
- http://www.swp-records.com/Products/Catalogue%20list/8.html
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/royal-court-music-from-uganda/id111915695
- Website:
- African Music Safari
- http://www.african-music-safari.com/african-xylophone.html
- Website:
- Uganda Tourism Board
- http://www.visituganda.com/
- Popular Artists from Uganda:
- Samite
- Geoffrey Oryema
- Bebe Cool
- Book:
- Hale, Thomas A. Griots and Griottes: Masters of Words and Music. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 2007.
- http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=684_09
- Book:
- Charry, Eric. Mande Music: Traditional and Modern Music of the Maninka and Mandinka of Western Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
- http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/M/bo3629899.html
- Website:
- The Art of the Kora
- http://www.kora-music.com/e/frame.htm
- Website:
- Cora Connection
- http://www.coraconnection.com/
- Website:
- The Kora Workshop
- http://www.thekoraworkshop.co.uk/
- Popular Artists from Senegal and Surrounding Regions:
- Youssou N'Dour
- Salif Keita
- Baaba Maal
- Cheikh Lo
- Book:
- Erlmann, Veit. Nightsong: Performance, Power, and Practice in South Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
- http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo3632138.html
- DVD:
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo: On Tip Toe. Dir. Eric Simonson. Docurama Films, 2000.
- http://www.docurama.com/docurama/ladysmith-black-mambazo-on-tip-toe/
- DVD:
- Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony. Dir. Lee Hirsch. Artisan Home Entertainment, 2003.
- http://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/amandla-a-revolution-in-four/id252225815
- Website:
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo—Official Site
- http://www.mambazo.com/
- Website:
- South Africa Info—Mbube
- http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/mbube-210206.htm
- Popular Artists from South Africa
- Miriam Makeba
- Hugh Masekela
- Arthur Mafokate
- Zola
- Vusi Mahlasela