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The Meaning of Music - An African Perspcective
The Meaning of Music - An African Perspective
by Yaya Diallo
ART IN AFRICA
Introduction:
All the philosophies of the world have said that art sweetens morality" Art is the flower of a given culture. Frequently, in listening to a piece of music one says, There is a Chinese or an Arabic influence." Even after hearing only a few notes, one recognizes the origin of a piece of music. Art is the identity card of the culture. Therefore, is it possible to do art for arts sake?
A. Music and Dance in Black Africa:
Rare are the activities that do not involve music. Music is the very essence of the African soul. It is present in daily life (birth, death, marriage, baptism, work ...). By itself, this music is boring; it is always accompanied by its faithful companion, dance.
The Meaning of Music
One does not make music simply to please the ear. The man who makes it should have something to say, to bring to the community. The music should express an activity, distress, a natural or supernatural force, a sentiment, etc. Deprived of meaning, it loses its reason for being. Music is valued, and it should be. Thus one does not play just anything, anyhow, anywhere. Not just anybody plays any instrument. There is music which is played once a year, once a century to accompany a special ceremony, annually, monthly, or daily. Why not? For certain religious celebrations, it is the children who play the music. Since a child is very pure or in any case considered without sin, it is up to him to play such music.
Certain religious music is made only by the great initiates. Often gender is taken into account: among the Minianka, only women have the right to play the Djale." Among the Minianka, a woman does not have the right to play the tambour (a drum) or ḅllon. All things considered, to make music in Africa is not as simple as one might think. ...
Music and Dance
Dance often imitates the gestures of everyday activity. For this reason, one will not see a farmer dance the same way as a hunter. Each occupation has a posture and its own movements. The role of music is to follow these gestures, an not the opposite. In summary, it is the musician who follows the dancer. There are two reasons that justify this state of affairs:
· When a person cultivates the earth, it would be madness to play a music that incites him to meditate. He requires a rhythmic and very regular music.
· The second reason is related to the social order, justice, and respect for the human being. Could one make two people dance to the same tempo (speed), one weighing 300 lbs. And the other 100 lbs.? An old man of 75 years and a young man of 18 years? Does music with a standardized speed take into account this notion of respect?
Excerpt from At the Threshold of the African Soul, The Fulani-Minainka Way, A Village Voice, October 2001, Issue No. 141, pages 50-51, by Yaya Diallo -- published in 1985 and reissued in 2001.
Copied with permission from the Intercultural Institute of Montreal. Copies of the journal may be purchased from the Intercultural Institute of Montreal, www.iim.qc.ca, email, info@iim.qc.ca, phone 514-288-7229. Discounts are offered to visitors of Onzou Records, http://www.onzou.com . A description and table of contents is linked on http://www.onzou.com/artist/onzourecords .
Yaya Diallos book "The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings" is widely available through booksellers.
Note: Yaya Diallos traditional West African music album Nangape" of African drumming, balafon and flute music can be listened to on New Music Canada, http://www.newmusiccanada.com/genres/artist.cfm?Band_id=7862 .
Sales, audio samples and reviews, http://www.cdstreet.com/artists/onzourecords .
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