STUDY GUIDE
MUSIC
OF AFRICA
Know the map of Africa (at least the countries we discussed
in class).
You can use Nketia's map (on page vi).
Note that there are a few changes in the last 30 years to the map
of Africa --
Dahomey is now Benin, Zaire is now Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Rhodesia is Zimbabwe,
South West Africa is now Namibia, and Upper Volta is
now Burkina Faso.
As you know, the colonization of Africa by the Europeans caused
many arbitrary boundaries
to be drawn that did not and do not represent the composition of indigenous
populations.
Know something about the location and features of certain ethnic groups
that were discussed in class.
(Nketia, Appendix Two, page 251). Note that you can get a smaller
subset from the syllabus.
NKETIA The Music of Africa: Whole book, but read sections One
and Two more carefully.
Chapter 21 is a useful summary.
ROBERTS Black Music of Two Worlds: Introduction, and Chapters
1 and 8
Note: Introduction: Africa, Europe and Islam is especially
useful (pages xxi-xxxvii)
NOTES FROM CLASS, of course. All classes are relevant, including the
student presentations.
VIDEOS shown in class.
Other topics: The African aesthetic, Musical instruments (organology,
taxonomy),
tuning systems, rhythmic structure, bell patterns, influence in the
Americas.