INTRO TO AFRICAN CONTINENT

Facts:

Over 1000 ethnic groups/languages—also music cultures.

Africa is the continent where human biology began.

Two broad zones:

-- the Maghrib – north of Sahara desert

-- sub-Saharan Africa

Geographic: 5% rainforest;1/3 grasslands; l/2 desert

Migrations: Arab/Islam 7 th C; Bantu; Slavery; Pastoralists

POLITICAL INFO – West Africa

Early Empires emerged during Middle Ages.

--large centralized governments

--smaller “stateless” societies

Centralized states include West African Kingdoms

--flourished with long-distance trade of gold, ivory and salt.

--With wealth they retained large ensembles of royal musicians.

--Agents of rulers’ power. Sonic symbols (ivory horns, drum ensembles)

Kingdom of Ghana (700-1200 AD) along Niger River .

Kingdom of Mali (1200-1500 AD) and Kingdom of Songhai (1350-1600)—took place in ancient Mali; Islamic influence

Kingdom of Benin (1300-1800) part of present-day Nigeria (depicted musicians in ancient bronze plaques)

Ashanti Kingdom (1700-1900) –Ghana

Today these are largely symbolic. Chiefdoms exist parallel to national governments that rule from capital cities.

--At grassroots level, politics is largely consensual. At upper levels, chiefs consult elders to make decisions. Less hierarchical than centralized kingdoms of the past.

Colonizers divided up Africa in “Scramble for Africa”—meetings in Berlin, 1884-1885.

--irrespective of ethnic groups, lineages, etc.

--francophone (French), anglophone (English) and lusaphone (Portuguese) languages are now official languages in Africa .

MUSIC AREAS

• North Africa - Islamic; Arabic language; Music is solo vocal with ornamented melody; also predominantly solo string instruments

• Sudanic region

a. the desert (nomadic Tuaregs, etc.; primarily vocal, solo strings)

b. savannah belt ( Mande-speaking peoples; Muslim); important kingdoms, praise-singers, mainly chordophones (banjo antecedents), kora.

• The Horn of Africa

Has much in common with the Mediterranean ; Islamic regions.

Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church – one of the oldest Christian denominations in the world. Founded in 4 th century. Related to Egypt’s Coptic Church. Chant music; written notation.

Music: Chordophones (including krar); aerophones; embellishments in singing; ululation

• East Africa – Eastern Cattle area (symbol of wealth)--complex cultures; (Masai, Watutsi, etc.). Music: a variety of chordophones; complex drumming (but not polyphonic); tuned drum choirs; choral music

• Central Africa – a combination of Eastern cattle and Guinea coast traits. Highly developed art/sculpture; wide variety of instruments (chordos, xylophones, plucked idiophones).--Includes “Pygmy” peoples in forest regions and some villages with polyphonic singing (hocket, interlocking).

• Southern Africa (Shona of Zimbabwe – mbira); western tip inhabited by San (so-called Bushmen and Hottentots)-- Nomadic gatherers with fewer instruments. Also Kingdom of Zulu; musical bow, etc. Music: drums not formally emphasized; xylophone orchestras in Mozambique ; musical bow; highly developed choral organization in S. African music.

• West Africa (Guinea coast) – Forest belt. Rice agriculture. Complex drum ensembles, “hot rhythm”, multi-part vocal styles; variety of instrument types.