The Manifold and Myriad of Music in Africa

I found it very fun to research African music. In school, the courses never go deep into African history unless you take a class focusing on Africa in particular. Due to this, many people grow to think that Africa is a "super country" where everyone has the same culture, music, style of living, etcetera. However, Africa is larger than Europe. If you think of how many different cultures are in Europe, you can only imagine how many cultures are inside of Africa!

I'll be starting by talking about Madagascarn music. Did you know that Malagasy music, or the music of Madagascar, is actually very different from mainland Africa? It is hard to define where and when the orgin of traditional Madagascarian music is due to the numerous ethnic influence on Malagasy music. Madagascar has 18 different ethnicities, though the concept of ethnicities has been deserted for a common human group. The Skalava group was in the west part of the island, the Merina in the highlands, and the Betsimisaraka in ther east. The group who preserved their music the best would be the Antandroy in the south. The body is their first musical instrument and their contemporary artists are the most recognized world wide. The north's most prominant group is the Antakarana, but there are dozens of other groups that left musical imprints in Madagascar. Traditional music remains alive because of the internet. The only difference is that pop culture has replaced the traditional melodies and artists, though it's more in larger cities and not villages. 

Madagascar's traditional music follows Madagascan life. Funerals, circumcisions, marriages, the return of the dead, initiation rites, past clan wars, victories and popular pleasures gave a place for Traditional music in Madagascan life. For each group, the mass gatherings are separated by their names, when they are celebrated, and some parts of the performance of the ritual. However, fundamentally, they are all similar. 

A traditional song that I found is "Oay Lahy E ." I believe it translates to O Dear Friend, but there was a comment under this video from someone who is from Madagascar correcting the translation and telling what the song is about. I do not know if the information is correct but the user says that it cannot be translated because it is a wail put into words. They say it is a song of a mother whose daughter disappeared without her saying goodbye. I could not find who wrote the song, but it is bright and reminds me of some of the South American and Native American music we listened to in class. It seems repetitive by captivates the audience with a call and response. 

Now in modern times, music still remains popular in Madagascar. The most notable genre is Salegy. It is still commonly associated with the northern coastal regions of Madagascar, but it can be heard all over the island. Grounded in traditional rhythms, salegy rose to popularity in the mid 20th century following World War II. At this time, indigenous music was being remade to fit a modern age. 

Salegy's style is energetic and funky. The genre is dominated by electric guitars, accordions, and call and response vocals and is underlined by electric bass and a heavy percussion section. The BPM of songs is rapid, typically around 290 BPM. Salegy represents an electrified version of music performed at rituals. 

One of salegy's prominent musicians was Eusebe Jaojoby or the "King of Salegy." He began his career singing traditional folk songs and singing for some of the first salegy bands in Ciego Suarez. Jaojaby's band, Jaojaby, gained popularity in Madagascar in the 1970s and grew popular internationally in the 1990s. Now you can find Jaojaby in his pub, Jao's Pub, where he or one of his family bands will play each Saturday night.  

I'll also be talking about African aerophones. Like most cultures, there are a great variety of aerophone instruments in their cultures. There are three main sub-sections of aerophones-flutes, reed pipes, and trumpets. 

First I'll start with the flutes. There are multiple types of flutes in the African musical culture-single-note stopped flutes, cylindrical, conical; transverse, end-blown, globular, etcetera. Single-note stopped flutes played on the hocket principle-where each flute played its note in rotation. Panpipe ensembles are not as common but are more seen in central Africa with a notable example being the Nyungwe people of Mozambique. Flutes were made from a variety of materials, such as bamboo, reed, roots, wood, clay, bone, or horns. Globular flutes are made from small gourds or hardshell fruits. Flutes are played by themselves across Africa but they are also played in pairs or with other instruments in some areas. 

Reed pipes aren't as popular in Africa, but they are still there. Transverse clarinets are used in West Africa and are typically made from guinea corn or sorghum stems. Their reeds are a flap cut part of the way from the stem on one end. You can find single and double clarinets are common among the Dinka people in southern Sudan and South Sudan. 

Finally, lip-vibrated aerophones-their versions of a trumpet-are made from a variety of materials and are widespread in Africa. Besides being used for music, they are also used for signals. Side-blown ivory or horn instruments can transmit verbal praises of chiefs and rulers in West Africa. Two instruments that do this are the kakaki (long and metal) and the farai (wooden). You can find instruments made from gourds, wood, hide, horn, or a combination in East and Central Africa. Trumpet sets were part of royal regalia in Buganda (now part of modern Uganda). Most trumpets don't make more than one or two notes but are very common in ensembles playing in hocket fashion.

Now, I couldn't find a video of the kakaki playing by itself, but you can hear it in this video very well. I read that it was 3 to 4 meters long, but it wasn't until I watched the video that I realized how long it actually is. I like the sound of it as well. It is not as high-pitched as a normal trumpet but instead reminds me of a trombone. I can see how an instrument like the kakaki would be used to give signs of a ruler's praise.

Overall, I found researching Sub-Saharan music very interesting. I always like learning about different cultures, so it is always fun to write these blogs. Until next time!

Works Cited

“Aerophones.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/art/African-music/Aerophones. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021.

Eyre, Banning. “Go inside Salegy, the Music That Dominates Madagascar.” The World from PRX, 21 Dec. 2014, www.pri.org/stories/2014-12-18/go-inside-salegy-music-dominates-madagascar. Accessed 30 Sept. 2021.

Ilado, Lucy, et al. “Traditional Music in Madagascar.” Music In Africa, 2 Nov. 2015, www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/traditional-music-madagascar. Accessed 29 Sept. 2021.

“Salegy.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salegy. Accessed 29 Sept. 2021.