AFRO-QUIZ 2013 AGE 10-12 MUSIC HISTORY- How music shapes culture Music is a universal language, with no need for translation Berthold Auerbach. How music is created, performed and is importance is dependent on the culture and society of the place. Music is used as a form of expression, as communication and for entertainment. During the time of slavery, when the slaves were brought to the new world, they were discouraged from maintaining their cultural practises and norms. However slavery did not manage to destroy the preservation of the rich music culture that the African slaves brought with them when they were taken from the continent. The majority of the slaves came from different parts of West Africa, and each of these parts had their own distinctive type of music. Those who came from the West African Savannah area- from Guinea to Senegal, brought music which was influenced by Islam culture. The music had long melody lines and consisted of many string and wind instruments. Those who came from the West African rainforest area consisting of Ghana and Nigeria, brought with them music that had complicated rhythms and used instruments that you strike such as drums as well as a call and response vocal. Those who came from the more southern parts of west Africa, the Congo- Angola area, brought with them music that was polyphonic, meaning the music had many sounds and voices which included dialogue or spoken word. In America, that slave owners from the South outlawed drums. This made it hard for the slaves from the rainforest region of West Africa to play their music because they used a lot of drumming. The slave owners did this because they were afraid that the slaves would communicate through the music and start revolts. This made it easier for the slaves from the Savannah region of Guinea and Senegal, otherwise known as the Jola people, to maintain their music because they did not need drums. Therefore the music from this area has had the strongest influence on African-American music culture. 24% of the slaves who were brought to America were the Jola people and their music helped influence the Blues music that is very popular amongst African Americans today. Like the music from the savannah region, Blues also uses only wind and string instruments and has one person sing the lyrical part. More evidence of the influence of this music on the Blues is can be realised when one considers that Blues music is only in America
because drums were banned in America. In the other areas of the world where slaves were taken and drums were not banned, we can see the African music influence on those cultures because there is a lot of drum beat. The Jola slaves adapted to the American European instruments such as the guitar and the fiddle and in the process they created the banjo and instrument an instrument which was later adopted by white musicians in the 1840s. In the Caribbean and Afro-South America, where drums were not banned, we encounter music that uses a lot of percussion instruments such as drums. Many different types of drums such as congas and bongos are used throughout the Caribbean and South America. Another influence that was brought in by the slaves is the singing style and the call and response was of singing where there is a leader and responders. As noted above, the music that the slaves from Ghana and Nigeria brought had complicated rhythms and the same can be said for Afro-South American and Caribbean music. Salsa, a musical style from Cuba has African influences which are demonstrated by the use of percussion instruments and the call and response vocals. Soca and Calypso music carry their influences in the use of percussion in both of them and the use of call and response in Calypso music. Mento, a Jamaican music style that was popular in the 1950 s has influences from not only the central and southern parts of West Africa, but from the Jola peoples also, as it uses the guitar, banjo and the drums. Merengue, originally the national dance music of the Dominican Republic also has African influence in it and uses a double headed drum known as a tambora. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACTS As we have learned, music has and continues to play a very important role in the cultural influences and the well-being of societies. Music has been the strongest influence on politics in many countries. For the slaves, music was the one aspect of their culture that was not taken away from them as they were forced into slavery. Music upheld the morale of the slave society and reminded them of their humanity. As music evolved among the black diaspora in the western world, the descendants of the slaves upheld it within their by institutions such as family, church, school and associations. These institutions are what make music such an important part of most black societies. One of the most important influences of music in politics is the liberation music of the black South Africans during the 46 years of apartheid. Vuyisile Mini was a legendary South African composer who was one of the most powerful organizers of the resistance movement. He composed a song titled Ndodemnyama we Verwoerd, which meant watch out Verwoerd. Verwoerd was the Minister of Native Affairs who was one of main implementers of Apartheid. He was referred to as the architect of apartheid. The native South African people sang this song in protest and as a tribute to the strength of the freedom fighters. Even after Mini s death, Ndodemnyama was sung by the people and by other South African Musicians such as Miriam Makeba. Follow the link below to hear Miriam Makeba singing this liberation song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dywgmoxhuvk#t=66s. Meadowlands another song that was popularized by Miriam Makeba, was composed by Strike Vilakezi. This song was written as a response to the removal of black South Africans from a place in Johannesburg called Sophia town. Roughly 60,000 people were removed from Sophia town and relocated to a township that was designated for Africans. Follow the link below to hear Meadowlands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdyskphvlhq&feature=player_detailpage#t=71s. It is because of the international performance of this song that allowed the world to see the injustice that was going on in South Africa. Another important social impact of music is the use of music for groups to communicate with each other. During the time of the Underground Railroad, the secret routes and safe houses that slaves used to escape to Free states or to Canada, the slaves used their spiritual songs as a way of communicating to secret messages and information to one another about the Underground Railroad. One of the most popular of these spiritual songs is Wade in the Water, a song which told those escaping to use the riverbank to travel so that the search dogs lose their scent. Because slaves were not allowed to learn how to read or write, the only way they had of communicating was verbally and they turned this into song. Music is the social language that is used both in celebration and in times of sorrow and hardship. Both of these help bring a society together and create a point of reference. CANADIANA Music within the Black communities in 19 th century Canada was predominately found in churches. As such, at the turn of the 20 th century, the majority of black music, especially in Ontario and the Maritimes was expressed through choirs. The Montreal Black Community Youth Choir (in existence from 1974-1981) later became today s Montreal Jubilation Gospel choir. The choir came together in 1982 under the direction of Trevor Payne. The choir has toured around the world, singing for Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela and have collaborated with Ray Charles. The development of music in the churches gave rise to some local entertainers. Robert Nathaniel Dett Early Black Canadian influences Robert Nathaniel Dett (born in 1882, died in 1943), shown in the picture above was one of the first black Canadian composers. He performed at Carnegie Hall and the Boston Symphony Hall as a pianist and choir director. Portia May White (1991-1968) was a very talented singer who was know internationally b ecasue of her voice and her stage presence. She helped pave
the way and open doors for other black musicians who followed. Her father was a reverend in Truro, Nova Scotia and her musical debut was at the tender age of six in her father s choir. Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (1925-2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer who was nicknamed the maharaja of the keyboard. Having released over 200 records, he was the proud owner of eight Grammy awards. Born to immigrants from the West Indies, Peterson started playing the trumpet and the piano when he was five years old. The picture to the left is of Oscar Peterson in 1977. Charles Reed Biddle or Charlie Biddle (1926-2003) was a jazz bassist. Although he was born in Philadelphia, USA, Biddle spent the majority of his life in Montreal, Quebec, becoming a Canadian citizen only later in his life. Biddle move to Canada was because he saw white jazz musicians playing alongside black jazz musicians; something uncommon in the US. In his support and promotion of jazz music, Biddle organized outdoor festivals where local jazz musicians came to play. Jazz Chez-Nous, a three day festival that he organized in 1979 and in 1983, laid the foundation for Montreal International Jazz Festival, which is the world s largest jazz festival. The picture to the right shows the great Charlie Biddle on the Bass. Current Black Canadian influences Jason D. Harrow (born May12, 1976) is more commonly known by his stage name- Kardinal Offishall. Kardinal is probably one of the most well-known Canadian musicians today. He was born in Scarborough, Ontario to Jamaican immigrant parents. He is well known for the distinctive fusion of dancehall and reggae with hiphop. He has been given the nickname of Canada s hip-hop ambassador. Kardinal started rapping at the age of eight and had won competitions by the time he was 12. Also at this age, he performed live
on stage for the first time and Mr. Nelson Mandela was in the audience. In one of his first major hit songs, Kardinal wanted to show the work that Black Canadians had a distinct culture that was separate from that of African- Americans. The song was called BaKardi slang, and it differentiated the different ways in which black Canadians in Toronto used slang compared to their American counterparts. The following link is a video of Kardinal singing BaKardi slang.?feature= player_embedded&v=a1q_e3jeveq#t=91s. Deborah Cox, born in 1974, is a Toronto born R&B singer. She is the daughter of Afro- Guyanese parents and started singing at the age of 12 in TV commercials. In the early 1990 s, she performed as a back-up singer for Celine Dion. After meeting a lot rejection from Canadian record labels, Cox moved to Los Angeles in 1994. After her move to Los Angeles, Deborah s success was evident when her 1998 hit Nobody s supposed to be here was #1 for fourteen weeks on the Hot R&B charts in the USA and #2 for eight consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Aside from singing, Cox has also acted. In 2004, she made her Broadway debut in the musical Aida. Deborah Cox seen here in 2011
TECHNOLOGY-musical pioneers MUSICIAN GENRE POPULAR SONG Louis Armstrong- born in 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz music. He was a very important influence of Jazz music in America and internationally. His gravelly voice also helped him secure great fame and stage presence. What a wonderful world?v=e2vcwbzgdpm&feature= player_embedded#t=17s. Follow the URL to hear the song. James Brown- born in 1933 in Barnwell, South Carolina. Funk. Brown is known as one of the founding fathers of funk music. James was also a social activist whose main area of interest was children s education. I feel good?feature=player_embedded&v =SzlpTRNIAvc#t=35s. Bob Marley- was born Nesta Robert Marley in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica in 1945. Reggae music. Even decades after his death, Marley remains the most revered reggae musician. He wrote and performed music which addressed the social issues that were plaguing Jamaica at the time. No woman, no cry?feature=player_embedded&v =jgqrvn3q1oo#t=40s.
Mighty Sparrow- was born Slinger Francisco in Grand Roy, Grenada in 1935. Calypso music. Also known as Birdie, Mighty Sparrow has been nicknamed the Calypso King of the World. He was introduced to Calypso music at the age of nine when his family moved to Trinidad. Jean and Dinah?v=CnvzMxGsXeE&feature=pl ayer_embedded#t=59s. Susana Baca- born in 1944 in Lima Province, Peru. Afro-Peruvian music. Baca was instrumental in the revival of Afro- Peruvian music. In 2011, she was named Peru s Minister of Culture. Maria Lando?feature=player_embedded&v =G1orreicjE8#t=10s. Celia Cruz- born in 1925 in Havana, Cuba. Salsa music. Cruz was known internationally as the Queen of Salsa, and was one of the most influential women in the history of Cuban music. Guantanamera?v=Js0rKmv- 0Iw&feature=player_embedde d#t=34s.
Fela Kuti- was born Olufela Olusegun Olutodun Ransome-Kuti, in 1938 in Abeokuta,Ogun State, Nigeria Afro-beat. He was the pioneer of Afro-beat music. He played many instruments. Fela was also a Human rights activist and later went into politics. Zombie?v=O0psvbX1YB0&feature=pl ayer_embedded#t=6s. Miriam Makeba- was born Zenzile Miriam Makeba in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1932. Miriam Makeba does not fit into just one genre. Her music has been grouped with folk, Jazz, pop rock, world music and Marabi. She was nicknamed Mama Africa and was not only an internationally renowned singer, but a civil rights activist. Pata Pata?feature=player_embedded&v =kcc61z9ifu4#t=10s.
REFERENCES http://muslimvoicesfestival.org/resources/african-muslims-and-american-blues http://www.vgskole.net/prosjekt/slavrute/elever/musikk/music1.htm#introduction http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=african-contribution-to-american-culture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/music_of_the_african_diaspora http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/world_music/music_carribean1.shtml http://www.america.gov/media/pdf/books/american-popular-music.pdf#popup http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/265/the-sounds-of-resistance-the-role-of-music-in-southafricas-anti-apartheid-movement http://www.osblackhistory.com/songs.php http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/african-music-and-musicians http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/artists/artist.aspx?id=3935 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/music_of_canada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/black_canadians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/susana_baca http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/celia_cruz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/louis_armstrong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/james_brown http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mightysparrow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bobmarley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/miriam_makeba http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fela_kuti