Sub Saharan African Music

Concepts about Music:
Cultural Influence
1. What is music in the culture?
African music is as diverse as its cultures and peoples and has flowered many indigenous forms as well as been shaped by foreign influences. It bears a difference from other regions and cultures. The roles of music and dance are tightly woven together in Sub-Saharan Africa, and music intersects with every aspect of life, expresses life through the medium of sound. African music also helps connect people together in a variety of ways. Music is an integral part of African ethnic life, accompanying many kinds of events, including childbirth, marriage, hunting, and even political views. Many cultures use song and dance to ward off evil spirits, and pay respects to good
Most African traditional music is a participative performance. There is a perpetual give and take between the main performer and the public, and the public is fully part of the performances. Tradition and culture helped each participant to know how it should respond to a particular rhythmic. Other people in the African society, even though not fully musician, have music as one of the requirements to fulfill their social responsibility. These include people like healers, who on certain occasions are called upon to perform sacred songs. The last group of musicians are full time musicians. Often their position in the society is inherited. (New World Encyclopedia contributors
Where is music performed?
Sub Saharan African music is performed at festivals, funerals, community structures, birth ceremonies, weddings.
12. How do the musicians dress when they perform?
In the you tube video they dress a lot of different ways. Some people have shoes on, some don’t. They are mostly wearing really colorful clothing that sticks out and catches the eye. Their outfits also have lots of different designs on them. Some of the women wear belly shirts and dresses. Some also wear head bands. It looks like they wear the same things that we do. I did not see jeans. Most of their clothing is colorful and have lots of designs.
13. On what occasions is music performed?
Music is performed on many different occasions. They play music at funerals, weddings, when they name a baby, at festivals. They also play music at religious events as well. Sometimes they sing and dance for no reason. There doesn’t always have to be a special occasion for them to play music. They also play at community structures.
14. What does the audience do during a performance?
The audience watches and then take turns