Beyond the Classroom: Music of Sub-Saharan Africa

  Time for another Beyond the Classroom Blog! This time, we're going to Africa. A few quick parameters for  this week's blog topics:

• All the rules from the Music of Indigenous Americans blog are still in play--three separate lines of inquiry, two of which must be explicitly about a musical topic; each item needs to include a hefty paragraph (at the very least) of description/explanation; you need to let me know where you got your information from
• Please remember that your entire blog needs to be in your own words (unless you have a really specific quote that you just have to share). Paraphrase your sources, and then be sure to cite them.
• Scope: You may go anywhere in Africa for your topics as long as you are South of the Sahara Desert. If you're just dying to dive into, say, Morocco or Egypt, don't worry--we'll consider those places when we get to Arabic music in a few weeks.
• More Scope: Try to go beyond what we talk about in class. If you're just dying to explore further the tradition of the griot, or South Africa Isicathamiya, try to post new significantly new information, or present the topic from a different point of view.
• Yet More Scope: You can consider any music of sub-Saharan Africa that you like. It can be traditional, modern, vocal, instrumental, formal, informal, and from any part of sub-Saharan Africa that you like. Wondering what goes on in Madagascar? Go find out! Wondering if they have any aerophones? Go find out! Want to see what other kinds of drums they have? Go find out! Want to learn about the music of the BaAka people in Central Africa? Please, someone, go find out!

Y'all did a really good job with the last Beyond the Classroom blogs, so I don't think I need to supply an example here. Too, I don't want to steal any of your good ideas! I can't bear to not share something, though, so here's one last bit of fan-girling over Sona Jobarteh--her official music video for the song "Gambia." Enjoy!