Download World Music

BALAFON
GOBLET DRUMS
GANKOGUI
SHEKERE
SINGING DRUM
DONNO DRUM (TALKING DRUM)
MBIRA
ZEZE
BEGENA
OUD
ATENTEBEN
THE EXTREME DIVERSITY OF AFRICAN
MUSIC
Due to the geographically huge size and large
population, African music is rich and diverse.
 Different regions in African have distinct musical
traditions.
 Due to the historical connections with other
places of the world, such as the Middle East due
to proximity, and much of Europe due to various
events, some music in Africa has transformed,
while other music remained more true to its
origins.

DIFFERENT REGIONS IN AFRICA
Northern and Eastern African was widely
influenced and entangled with the Middle East.
As such, these regions share many of the same
instruments, and some playing styles.
Instruments from places such as Saudi Arabia
and Turkey made their way down to this region
of Africa and had a profound impact.
 Because of the sharing of ideas and instruments,
this region of Africa has close ties with Middle
Eastern maqamat (melodic modes).
 Ethiopian and Somalian music is typically
pentatonic.

A MAP OF AFRICA!
POLYRHYTHM
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Polyrhythm is a prevalent feature in much of
West African music. The basic definition of
polyrhythm is two or more rhythms being played
at the same time, and at the same tempo.
Polyrhythm on Gankogui
There is no conductor to tell the players to follow
the same beat. Each participant plays a rhythmic
pattern that is not, by itself, difficult.
EXAMPLE OF POLYRYTHM
One half of the class claps a simple duple meter.
 1-2-1-2-1-2
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The other half is going to play triplets
 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3
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Make the “1s” of each beat line up.
Left
1
Right
1
2
2
3
UNDERSTANDING
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Polyrhythm is the basis for music creation
throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. For
those who grow up in cultures where
polyrhythmic music is common, understanding
comes more naturally.
More polyrhythms with Donno drums (talking
drums)
Lots of polyrhythm is used in sub-Saharan
African music, including music played in
festivities and royal events.
JÙJÚ MUSIC
Jùjú is a form of popular music that blends the
polyrhythmic element of African music with some
western stylization. The western elements
usually include an acoustic guitar or sometimes a
banjo. Juju may also include a tambourine, but
the percussion always incorporates African
drums.
 Jùjú originated in Nigeria
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Jùjú
VOCAL STYLES

Vocal styles in African traditional music vary
widely. While traditional African music is very
dependant on audience participation, songs differ
in terms of purpose. Some songs are for
celebration, while others are more sombre. Much
of the vocal style lies in a chorus of audience
members, while other traditional African music
utilizes a small amount of vocalists with dynamic
ranges.
CENTRAL AFRICA

A large portion of central Africa, particularly the
Congo Basin, is covered in rainforest. The people
living in the rainforest are usually referred to, by
as, as Pygmies. Their music is vocal, and is
passed on aurally and culturally. They have
songs for hunting, celebrating, funerals, and a
wide range of other events.
Pygmy Music
 Note: this is a clip of Mbuti pygmy music. The
term “pygmy” encapsulates a huge range of
diversity.

EAST AFRICA
East Africa is the source of a wide range of
lamellophones. The singing drum that we saw on
Friday is an example, as is the Mbira or the
Kalmiba. A more English phrase for the Mbira is
“thumb piano”.
 Another example of a lamellophone that you
might be familiar with is a music box!

UGANDA
Uganda is home to the Akadinda, a large and
heavy log xylophone. It utilizes interlocking
patterns in its rhythm and is generally played by
more than one person.
 Akadinda
 The music of Uganda, sometimes referred to as
Baganda music, is based on the mwanjo. The
mwanjo is an octave divided into five intervals of
approximately 2.4 semitones.
 Baganda
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GAMBIAN KORA
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The kora is a harp lute that originated in
Gambia.
The players of these instruments are quite
skilled, being able to play multiple parts at once,
like this.
MBUBE
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Mbube is South African choir singing, rich with
vibrant harmony.
Mbube