ANTH006 Week 3-5 Lect

The Mande Jaliya Singing History

Overview of Music in Africa

  • Diversity of Expression:

    • General Factors Impacting Music: Reflects cultural, social, and historical influences.

    • Languages: Over 800 languages spoken across 54 countries, showcasing rich cultural variety.

    • Religious Influences: Includes Muslim, Christian, and traditional belief systems.

    • Recent History: Countries gained independence from colonial powers in the 1950s, marking a renaissance in cultural expression.

  • Key Questions to Consider:

    • What is the role of a musician in society?

    • How does music convey history?

    • The distinction between traditional and popular music.

The Mali or Mande Empire (1200s-1600)

  • Medieval Globalization: Influences from various regions including Sudanic Africa, Muslim North Africa, Arab traders, and Europeans contributed to Mande music’s evolution.

  • Political Structure: Centralized and hierarchical.

Contemporary Mande Peoples

  • Geographic Spread: Found throughout West Africa from Senegal to Burkina Faso.

  • Languages Spoken: Maninka, Mandinka, Bamana, French.

The Jali or Griot

  • Definition: Hereditary musicians and historians serving the Mande people.

  • Roles and Status:

    • Served as craft specialists (nyamalo) to wealthy patrons.

    • Functioned both as entertainers and advisors.

    • Extolled history through praise songs and lineage stories.

  • Hereditary Profession: Knowledge passed through apprenticeship; notable families include Kouyate, Diabate, Suso, Jabarteh.

Instruments of the Mande

  • The Balafon:

    • A xylophone with 18-21 keys and gourd resonators.

    • Dates back to at least the 1300s as a court instrument.

  • The Kora:

    • A harp-lute with 21-25 strings, played in a diatonic scale with right/left alternation.

    • Popularized in the 19th-20th century.

  • Other Instruments:

    • Ngoni: A spiked lute, related to the American banjo.

    • Djembe: A goblet-shaped drum, widely popular in West Africa.

Musical Forms and Concepts

  • Kumbengo: Instrumental ostinato.

  • Birimintingo: Virtuosic instrumental solo.

  • Donkilo: Song with several phrases of text.

  • Sataro: Extemporaneous spoken or chanted text, example shown in “Sinyaro”, a 19th-century praise song.

Contemporary Mande Music

  • Decline of Traditional Roles: Loss of patronage leads to changes in jali roles.

  • Influences Post-WWII: Increased popularity of guitar and Cuban music.

  • Post-Independence: Nationalist sentiments following independence in Mali (1950) and Guinea (1958).

  • Government Support: Mali's President Modibo Keita funded national orchestras in the 1960s.

  • Modern Griots: Example includes Bassekou Koutaye, who protests fundamentalist takeovers in North Mali.

Sunjata – The Catalyst of Mande Music

  • Significance: Most crucial song within the Jali repertoire, detailing the rise of Sunjata Keita, the founder of the Mande Empire.

  • Features: Incorporates call and response structure, showcasing traditional storytelling practices.

Ethiopian Musical Context

Introduction to Ethiopia

  • Historical Depth: Officially founded in 980 B.C., it is one of the oldest societies in Africa.

  • Diversity: 77 distinct ethnic groups, with Amhara, Oromo, and Tigray being the most populous.

  • Religious Demographics: 62.6 million Christians, primarily Orthodox.

  • Cultural Importance of Coffee: First discovered in Ethiopia.

Regional Composition and Ethnic Groups

  • Amhara: Semitic group, 27% population, historically the ruling group.

  • Tigray: 6% of the population, known for overthrowing a Marxist junta.

  • Oromo: The largest group at 33.5%, historically marginalized.

Historical Resistance to Colonialism

  • Scramble for Africa: Ethiopia’s unique status as a country that successfully resisted formal colonization.

  • Italian Conflict: Successfully defended against Italy in the 1895 battle.

Musical Landscape of Ethiopia Today

  • Indigenous Traditions: Diverse sacred and secular musical styles endemic to various regions.

  • Christian Liturgical Music: Sacred chants of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church are prevalent.

  • Secular War Songs: These songs blend indigenous and religious elements to advocate for unity during conflicts.

Musical Terms and Structure in Habesha Music

  • Zema (Chant): Defined as pleasing sound; rooted in both indigenous and Christian traditions.

  • Performers: Debtera—an itinerant group of singers and performers.

  • Instruments: Includes kebero (drums) and tsanatsel (sistrum) with sections often performed a cappella.

Folk Music of the Ethiopian Highlands

  • Origin of Folk Music: Predominantly from the highland region, reflecting rich cultural narratives.

  • Musical Characteristics: Utilizes modal and pentatonic scales with assorted chordophones like masenqo, krar, and begena.

Resistance Music and National Identity in Ethiopia

  • Historical Significance: Songs commemorating the Battle of Adwa represent the Ethiopian spirit and resistance against colonization.

  • Modern Protests: Contemporary compositions often address socio-political issues, maintaining the legacy of past struggles.

Irish Music: Cultural Resilience and Identity

Historical Context of Irish Music

  • Celtic Roots and Colonial Influence: Gaelic origins faced British colonialism and subsequent nationalist movements.

  • Key Events: Easter Rebellion (1916) leading to Republic of Ireland (1949) and Northern Ireland’s complex identity.

Revival and Maturation of Irish Music

  • Early 20th Century Revivals: Home Rule Movement promoted Gaelic culture and language.

  • Ceili Bands: Emerged as popular rural music ensembles incorporating traditional instruments.

  • Influence of American Music: Emigration shaped modern Irish music with cross-cultural influences.

Irish Folk Music Today and Musical Elements

  • Revival Movements: The 1960s-70s saw significant folk music resurgence driven by socio-political changes.

  • Characteristic Elements: Ornamentation and suite-like dance compositions, with jigs and slips as prevalent forms.

Bulgarian Folk Music: Tradition and Adaptation

Historical Overview

  • Cultural Background: Bulgaria's history traverses Ottoman rule, monarchy, and communism.

  • Population and Religion: 85% ethnic Bulgarians with a spectrum of religious practices.

Traditional Musical Features

  • Characteristics of Bulgarian Music: Additive meters, as seen in common forms such as daichovo horo 9/8.

  • Instruments Used: Gaida, zurna, and other traditional instruments feature in ensemble contexts.

Societal Influence on Music

  • Narodna Muzika: State-sponsored folk music education under communist rule, fostering traditional forms.

  • Folklorization: Transformation of folk traditions for concert stages, intertwining classical techniques with folk themes.

Modern Perspectives and Changes

  • The Shift in Musical Expression: Evolving away from purely traditional context to broader cultural significance.

  • Mysterious Bulgarian Voices: Gaining western attention, the traditional female choir represents an example of cultural crossroads.

robot