Traditional West African music is still used in many regions of West Africa. Instruments used in West African music are crafted out of materials from the local land such as wood, animal skins and horns, moth cocoons, and even Cucurbitaceae plants. The music is closely associated with dances that are used accompanied by the music for occasions. The danced are used to express many different motives and meaning, such as, contacting god for aid in success and to suggest peace where there is conflict as well as to celebrate something or for ceremonial purposes such as death and other phases of life. Dances that accompany West African music are very enthusiastic and extravagant because dancers follow the rhythmic patterns of the drums and interpret them using their body parts. Percussion, Aerophones and Chordophones are all used in West African music and are frequently improvised rather than following a strict system like you may hear in other types of world music such as Indian Classical music or unlike, most commonly, the western music system. Traditionally, West African music is performed in the comfort of tribes and communities in West Africa. It is a very unique musical event in the sense that it brings a whole community together. However, West African music is performed on stages in many parts of the world.
Instruments Used
- The Kora (A chordophone instrument with a sound chamber made of gourd played using percussive characteristics. Traditional Kora players will use small note devisions and complex rhythms, so they play fast and create very busy melodies)
- The Djembé (a membranophone with many different spellings, most commonly spelt Djembé, is a percussion instrument which originated in West Africa)
- The Dunun drums (A rope tuned, hide skinned membranophone which is played using a stick to hit the skin The Dunun drums come in a family of three starting from biggest to smallest are named Dunun, Sangban and Kenkeni)
- The Krin (also knows as the kolokolo, is a solid wood instrument with slit holes that allow two different notes as well as being able to play the whole drum which can apply a range of tembrel variation from one instrument. the Kolokolo is played using two sticks to hit the drum which makes it an Idiophone)
- The Balafon (is a xylophone like tuned percussion Idiophone instrument crafted with wood that resonates which has between 16 and 27 keys and has originated from West Africa)
, beads are used inside the drums to make then rattle on playing which can be likened to the similar effect of a western snare. Percussion is the main element of West African music which shows its importance when combined with the traditional dances which can be instruments like Finger Pianos, Bells, Shakers and the use of hand clapping. with the nature of West African instruments and how they're made, unlike factory and absolute craft precision of the west, West African instruments can be somewhat crude and not perfectly pitched. I think this holds a great example for argument against the strictness of western music, you do not need absolute musical "perfection" and precision to create something epic, appreciated and internationally recognised by the world.
Theory of West African Music
As a western musician such as myself, You may listen to traditional West African music and initially think that the structure and form sound very organized, very much like when our teachers got the box of world instruments out in music classes at primary school. However, be under no illusions, It is far more complicated than what it may seem. You can hear the mass of percussion in some of the music which overlap and create poly-rhythmic elements which to a western musician will be recognised as playing different time signatures at once which is exactly what is happening. How this works is, in a drum ensemble, the Master Drummer is the leader and coordinator of the music, in a sense, similar to a conductor of classical music or a lead guitar player in a western pop band. His role is essential in the performance of the music as he plays drums solos and gives orders, musically, to the other drummers in the ensemble to lead then into different sections of the form. Stylistic elements such as call and response can be heard in West African music, especially in the singing sections where a large group of vocalists may chant some lyrics which is then followed by a single vocalist speaking another line on his self in the song. West African music is handed down orally to younger musicians in Africa. It is not scored or written.Influences On Western Music
Afrobeat is a genre derived from both western genres and traditional West African music. Afrobeat is a combination between Funk, Jazz and West African music with stylistic elements from all the three genres like chants from West African tradition and call and response from both Jazz and Funk. All of which, including Blues music, was also a very popular derivation of West African music and were brought over to the west in the days of the slave trade and is still massively performed all over the world.
Reference List
All material accessed 24th November 2013
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