Bell Central School Center

AFRICA is an exotic region with a sense of mystique and adventure. The most fascinating aspect is the sense of history and a quintessential African culture and music passed down through generations.

CALL and RESPONSE was very a very important form in African music. One person would call and the others would respond. For example the caller might sing "Carry on" and the responders would sing "...little brother."

Role of Music: African music is a vital part of everyday life in Africa. It is a part of religious ceremonies, festivals, and social rituals. Songs are used for the important events in a person's life (birth, coming of age, marriage, and death). They are used for curing the sick, bringing rain, and religious dances. Many Africans believe that music serves as a link with the spirit world. Everyone plays an active part in the musical life of the community. Music is ultimately tied to the things that are most important to the welfare of the people.

Characteristics of African Music: Melodies are usually short and simple. African music uses short bits of melody that are repeated over and over. Singers or instrumentalists may change them at will, so that the performance becomes a theme with many variations. When performing, one person may begin to improvise, or make up a special version of the melody while the other singers continue the original melody. Often, several voices will sing different melodies at the same time. Africans also sing in rounds. The accompaniment may consist of chords or short melodic patterns that are repeated continually.

African Music Across the Continent: Music varies across the African Continent. Ethnic groups of Southern African deserts have very simple songs. People in the Congo River Basin have more complicated singing and instrumental music. East Africans specialize in music played on xylophones. West Coast tribes have made the art of drum playing a highly developed skill.

African Instruments Percussion Instruments: The most important instrument are the drums. African drums come in all kinds, shapes, sizes and varieties. The talking drums are the most popular. Other Percussion: Mbira or Sansa (also known as "thumb-piano") It consists of a wooden board or box over which several tongues of metal or bamboo are tied. Each of these tongues is plucked gently, making a buzzing or tinkling sound. Bells, shakers, rattles (atnelope ears and gourds with seeds) Stringed Instruments: Kora (African harp) from West Africa Krar (African lyre and zithers) from Ethiopia, Ruanda, and Madagascar Guitar-like instruments from Nigeria Wind Instruments: Horns and flutes made from animal horns, ivory, or bark Instruments are also used to signal information over long distances

Most important instrument in African music is the African drums. These drums come in many different shapes and sizes. Unlike, Native American music the drums in African music plays syncopated rhythms (the opposite of steady rhythms).

The SHEKEREE is a traditional rattle in many African nations. It is made from a calabash covered by a web of seeds, & can be played in many different ways.

The JU JU RATTLE is the loudest rattle that the African's have! It is from Cameroon, made of hollow hard ju ju nuts fastened by twine to a bamboo handle.

ANKLE OR ARM BELLS These bells from Nepal are worn on the arms or ankles for spirited dancing.

GOAT HOOF RATTLES (CACHOS) This rattle, made of goat hooves, is used around wrists or arms (or small ankles) for dancing. They are made in both Bolivia and Peru.

NATURAL SEED POD RATTLES This is nature's rattle which are large seed pods. Some are dark (as these) and some are quite light in color. Africans often decorated these rattles and other instruments with different colors.

The African's even have a xylophone made by hand!!!

African children enjoy playing their country's instruments.

African Art: 3 painted gourds

African Art: Ceremonial carving

African Art: African necklaces