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AFRICAN MUSIC YEAR * LISTENING NOTES

INFORMATION ON EXTRACTS

1)     Burundi Called Akazésé  

• Voices – 2 girls  

• Greeting song  

• No instruments

• Singing a natural part of every day living rather than a special event

2)     Zimbabwe – Called “Mhondoro”  

• Electric guitars  

• Hi-hat cymbals  

• Singer – uses the word Zimbabwe  

• A nationalistic song “Zimbabwe country of lion kings”  

• What is a Mhondoro? First to find out will receive a commendation!

Further teaching points: After independence former colonies of European countries were given new names. Songs help the people to learn, respect and recognise the new name.

3)     Egypt Drum solo  

• Played on two drums (Small Doholla – Large Duff  

• Performed at the WOMAD festival Reading (World OF Music And Dance open in July)  

Further teaching points: Much of African folk music is now used in concert performances. The player uses different parts of the drum to obtain different notes as with the Djembe.

4)     Tanzania “Safari Na Muziki”  

• Instrument Mbira (Thumb piano or Marimba)  

• Metal strips, different lengths which are plucked  

Further teaching points: The MBIRA used in the recording was made of car springs and was more complex than the ones we have in school.

5)     South Africa “Nobamba”  

• Soloist and group Typical African singing in the opening  

• organised S G S SG S  

• A pop group from Soweto in South Africa  

• Pop style called Hi-life  

Further teaching points: Nelson Mandella came from Soweto, a shanty town near to Johannesburg.

6)     Ghana/Germany “Masimbabele”  

• A cross over style  

• Drummer from Ghana called Reebop Kwaku Baah

• African elements  

  •   Repeated percussion rhythm

  • Hand drums  

  • Backing singers African words  

  • Shakers – metallic and wooden  

• European elements 

  •   Power chords  

  • Reverb and other electronic effects  

  • Electric guitars  

  • Amplified voices  

  • Trumpets later  

Further teaching points: African music has influenced many styles of pop music both in the past and more recently.

HWK Write your own “ African Music listening notes in your neat books. Also Research using some of the African words for extra credit.

Copyright © 2001 David Hayes

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