africa
DESCRIPTION
Africa. Themes. What is Africa? Where is Africa? When is Africa?. Africa as Symbol. Ancestral homeland? Pastoral/impoverished? ? Africa as psychic space. What is African Music?. How do you know that you are listening to African music? Rhythm? Texture? Something else?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Africa
Themes
• What is Africa?
• Where is Africa?
• When is Africa?
Africa as Symbol
• Ancestral homeland?• Pastoral/impoverished?• ?
• Africa as psychic space
What is African Music?
• How do you know that you are listening to African music?
• Rhythm? Texture? Something else?
African Continent
• 2 broad zones• Maghrib– Like Mediterranean/Western Asia
• Sub-saharan– Culturally unique in many ways
• Nile River
Music in Everyday Life
• Work• Ceremonies• Play
• Social solidarity, transforms consciousness
• Expressive Media
Outside Influences
• Christian hymns• Muslim Cantillation• Music of West Asia• Euro-American pop
• Enculturation
Shona People
• Bantu-speaking• Successful people• Suffered under colonialism• Independence of Zimbabwe in 1980
• Mbira: changed as cultural symbol
Shona Spirits
• Four Classes of Spirits
• Invisible but have sensory experience• Advise descendants
• Mapira All-night family-based communal rituals• Possession Trances
Shona Mbira Music
• Mbira: thumb piano• 3:2 rhythmic structure• Separate individuals = polyphonic community
The Mbira
• Four Basic Features– Long thin keys of metal or plant material– Soundboard with bridge– Resonator to shape and amplify sound– Jingles that buzz
• Bi-lateral symmetry
Mbira Dzavadzimu• Mbira of the Ancestors– Instrument in Nhemamusasa– Placed in deze during performance– Bottle cap rattles– snail shells– Hand clapping– Singing– Hosho
Mbira and Spirits
• Ancestral spirits love to hear favorite mbira piece
• Makes possession more likely• Repertory does not change much
Mbira Song
• Two Interlocking Parts– Kushaura (main part)– Kutsinhira (interwoven second part)
• Each is polyphonic
Vocal Music
• Three styles– Mahonyera (vocables)– Kudeketera (poetry)– Huro (yodeling)
• Add depth and texture
“Nhemamusasa”
• “Cutting Branches for Shelter”
• Played for Chaminuka spirit• Song for War
• Great spiritual meaning- moving