short essay africa
JJoey
ShonaBaAkaKpelle.pdf
Shona, BaAka, and Kpelle
} Zimbabwe – see map on next slide; it is dark brown and borders South Africa
} Large, centralized political empire until 16th century
} Starting around the 16th century, their political power weakened. They became decentralized and were primarily an agricultural society.
} Colonized by England } At the turn of 20th century, they were taken
over by a white supremacist regime and renamed “Rhodesia.”
} Shona lost faith in their traditional culture and succumbed to English rule without fighting back.
} Until 1965, when an especially brutal leader, Ian Smith, was named Prime Minister. His brutality sparked a rebellion by the Shona people.
} Led by spirit mediums, in accordance with traditional Shona beliefs (to be described in a minute…)
} The Shona won the right to multi-racial elections, effectively allowing them to elect one of their own. They also got their name, Zimbabwe, back!
} Elected prime minister in 1980. Served until as prime minister, then president, until 2017.
} His election was positive at first – he was the first Shona man elected by popular vote after the white supremacist regime.
} However, he was eventually accused of being a corrupt dictator and of committing human rights violations. He was forced to resign in 2017.
} The Shona believe that when you die, you become an ancestral spirit, who can play an important role in the lives of those still living.
} When there is a problem, the Shona people try to channel the ancestral spirits.
} Spirit mediums are the people who can channel those spirits.
} Spirits are contacted through a Bira ceremony.
} The basic idea is to welcome the spirits into an environment that they will comfortable in.
} It is essentially a party – music is played, there is dancing, drinks are offered, etc.
} The main music played is on a traditional instrument called the mbira.
} Thumb piano (see picture on next slide…) } Most mbiras have bottlecaps or snail shells
attached to produce a rattling sound, in accordance with the African preference for complex aesthetics.
} The right thumb plays one melody. } The left thumb plays another melody. } The two thumbs alternate notes, producing
yet another melody. } The index finger adds in another melody. } This is a polyphonic texture, where several
equally important melodies are played at once.
} Listen to the song “Nhemamusasa” } Now watch the following video, which shows
someone teaching the song “Nhemamusasa.” This shows you how the interlocking patterns work.
} http://vimeo.com/71692249
} Enculturation – most people just pick it up by hearing it.
} “Pinching” – many players are reluctant to teach the instrument, so players will look over other players’ shoulders to see more complicated parts. This is called “pinching.”
} Dreams and spirits – many players claim to have learned a new song from a dream or spirit.
Representative of West Africa
} Liberia } Liberia was founded in 1821 as a place to
send slaves from the U.S. back to Africa. } This created conflict with the people who
already lived in Liberia. } See the map on the next slide: Liberia is dark
brown and is one of the western-most countries.
} Woi epic: a story about a superhuman legend named Woi, who is always overcoming obstacles
} The story is told by an epic pourer (narrator) and questioner. The questioner is an audience member who asks questions that help propel the story along.
} The chorus is made up of members of the audience who have gathered to hear the story.
} Listen to “Kalu Lee, Lee.” } This is one episode, or short segment of the
story. } The Woi epic is a neverending series of
similar episodes. } They can be told in any order, which makes
the story cyclical. } The music itself is also cyclical – notice how it
lacks a sense of direction.
} While most of the music we have listened to so far is organized into large sections, African music is made up of short segments that are combined to form a greater whole. These are called “facets,” and work like the pieces of a puzzle.
} They enable collective participation. Each individual part is simple, but when put together, they create complexity.
} They allow Africans to make better use of limited resources. Listen to “Horn and Drum Ensemble,” and notice how several people combine their simple instruments to create something complex.
} They are cyclical, because they are short and repetitive, which prevents any sense of direction in the music.
} Facets are also found in other art forms. Look at the example of the kente cloth on the next slide. Notice how many small patterns are used to create the whole. Try zooming in to see the details.
} African masks are also faceted. Picasso was inspired by these masks. Do a quick internet search to see some of Picasso’s works and see if you can see the African influence.
} A very common way of organizing music (form)
} Creates conversation and provides interaction.
} Allows for collective participation, because it encourages everyone to be part of the music.
} Lead singer and chorus } Lead instrument and group } Equal solo singers } Equal groups of singers } Single instrument using different timbre,
range, etc. to create different sounds
} Listen to “Rice planting song” } This is a group of women planting rice. They
use the rhythm of the musical interaction to stay focused and to accomplish their task more efficiently.
Representative of Central Africa
} A Pygmy group from the Central African Republic (see map next – dark brown in the center)
} Nomadic hunter/gatherers who live off of the rainforest
} Their society is egalitarian and communal – this is reflected in their music
} Watch this short video showing daily life at the BaAka camp:
} http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rXKHWOOdpJA
} Mainly vocal with some simple instruments } They sing many different melodies at once –
all related to each other. } Hocket = a melody that is divided up among
several people. This is sort of like the interlocking patterns of the mbira, but is much more complex.
} Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=yKLxFmnYO_I
} Listen to “Makala.” Know that while it may sound chaotic and random, it is actually very complex and organized.
