MischievousMonkey
Gor bu dëgër
A thread to share pieces of traditional West African music played today (or recently).
Now what do I mean by that?
Well, I’m not too sure myself. I try to mean music that has a clear filiation with styles of music that have been practiced in the West African region for several generations. Now, that filiation should be direct i.e., transmitted from the former bearers of the music style to the current through some form of education, rather than indirect, i.e., taking inspiration and cues from the music style without a connection to the holders of the tradition.
The reason for this distinction is that, on one hand, I think it’d exclude what isn’t commonly be considered as traditional music even though it takes hints from it. For example: afrobeats or the Black Panther soundtrack. On the other hand, it’d allow space for music that is undoubtedly rooted in tradition but has also taken note of other contemporary cultures or modern twists
I haven’t thought too deep about what how to define it better, so maybe examples would be better:
Now what do I mean by that?
Well, I’m not too sure myself. I try to mean music that has a clear filiation with styles of music that have been practiced in the West African region for several generations. Now, that filiation should be direct i.e., transmitted from the former bearers of the music style to the current through some form of education, rather than indirect, i.e., taking inspiration and cues from the music style without a connection to the holders of the tradition.
The reason for this distinction is that, on one hand, I think it’d exclude what isn’t commonly be considered as traditional music even though it takes hints from it. For example: afrobeats or the Black Panther soundtrack. On the other hand, it’d allow space for music that is undoubtedly rooted in tradition but has also taken note of other contemporary cultures or modern twists
I haven’t thought too deep about what how to define it better, so maybe examples would be better: