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THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY
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Reggae, Soca, Blues, and hip hop are all popular music world widely, but do we all know that they are originated from Africa? The African vocal and musician arts are clearly the origin of the sounds of these genres of music from the Diaspora.
Disregarding that fact, am here to talk about the current African music, and their similarities and differences due to regions, and occasions.
Western African Music: The rhythm is mostly smooth and soft. Vocals are sharp and soft. That goes to the fact that the songs themes are generally social, sad, and religious songs. Love songs are not more popular than social songs (family, community, and crisis). Sad songs are also popular (death of beloved people, memories, etc). Religious songs are widely popular, especially Soofi songs, where the majority are Muslims, such as in Senegal, and Mali.
Of course dancing music is common just like in any other part of Africa, but that was a general view on the special musical fissures of that area.
Let’s take a look at some of the big artists from West Africa:
Baaba Maal: from Senegal…..guitar player, and song writer. Smooth songs are his favorite style. So much similar to the Jaluwwa style of South Sudan. Social and Religious songs are his main issues. Sadness is felt in his rhythm and voice.
Ismael’Lo : a young guitar player from Senegal, and a song writer too. His style is considered new. Usage of modern instruments with the African rhythm presence is a combination he is good at. Social songs are his main themes. Has religious Soofi Songs and sad songs too.
Salif Keita: a great artist from Mali, and a song writer too. His style is special with a fast rhythm. A blind man with a great talent. Sings also in French. Love and social songs are the themes of his songs.
Youssou N’Dour: the most famous Senegalese artist worldwide. Sings in three languages, and his themes are a combination of social, love, and politics. He gives a new taste of the African music mixed with European and American tones. Also a song writer.
Bidinte: approximately new artist, and not much famous, but has the talent, and soon he will be.. From Guinea Equatorial, but resides in Spain. A guitar player and a song writer. Social and love songs are his main themes.
And we will be back for the rest of the regions of Africa.
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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South Africa:
i dont have much information about it, but in south Africa (in general, the english language is used alot in the music. cultures have thier differences in music, for example, the Zolo of south Africa have thier special type of music, with great dance performance.
the southren african music is the most modernized in Africa (my opinion). they have developed a good harmony with the new musical instruments.
political songs are very common. love songs, and the other themes also exist. the southren African artists are the best in adapting western styles of music, like rock, and reggae (which is not actually so wetern, but will count it as one in this article).
some the big Artists in the South of Africa:
The White Zolo: a white man, with the zolo spirit. a good performer and representitive of the music of the Zolo people.
Lucky Dube: a great phenomenon from Shouth Africa. a guitar player, and a song writer. he started his musical career as a Zolo singer, for he is a Zolo, and then moved to sing in rock music style. today he is one of the world famous reggae singers. his style is so special that u can tell his song by only listening to the music.
Abdullah Ibrahim: formerly known as Dollar Brand, was a South African jazz pioneer when he joined Hugh Masekela in the Jazz Epistles in the early 1960s. He soon left to travel in Europe and the U.S. where he got encouragement from mentor Duke Ellington. Ibrahim now lives in New York and occasionally travels to South Africa to perform.
that's all i have for the south african music..and will continue with the rest parts of africa.
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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East Africa>>
we can divide the eastern african style into two different catogries, the kenyan-tanzanian-congolian-zairian style, and the sudanese-somali-ethiopian-eritrean style ..
since you all u know about the sudanese style (am assuming), then i dont need to talk about the sudanese-somali-ethiopian-eritrean style. will go strait to the kenyan-tanzanian-congolian-zairian style (i know these are weird long names, but hey, this is my post...my biography, and i call whatever i wanna call
this style is really a nice sweet style. guitars with all thier kinds are very important in this style. happy songs and love songs are the basic themes. the swahili language is the dominant language here. swahilis musician are well known of thier adaptation to foriegn styles, like reggae, and hip hop. the classic style is the sweet rhythm songs...in a way much like the jalowwa of south sudan (ps.the jalowwa of south sudan is a sweet combination of the western african music with the kenyan style...that is just my opinion out of my own experience).
i can say that the swahili classic style is alot similar to the haiwaian style....i know many people will now know what i mean
here are some of the artists of this style:
Jabali Africa: a band that resides in canada..originally from Kenya. dancers, drummers, and song writers. they make many tours in canada and USA. sing in english, and swahili.
Hukwe Zawose: born in Tanzania, taught himself to sing and play ilimba (giant thumb piano) while herding his father's cows. Zawose also plays izezs (traditional violins), filimbi (traditional flute), and nguga (ankle bells).(african music encyclobedia).
Diblo Dibala: from Zair. a lead guitarist, and one of the hotest in africa.
that's all for the eastern african music...i guess we still have one more to go...please show some support
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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will be back for the last part of africa soon ...the northren part..
am gonna talk specifically about the RAY music of Algeria, and another type of music from morroco and western desert, so please wait.
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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North Africa>>
three famous types of music in North Africa, Egyption style, Ray music, and a style from morroco and western sahara.
i dont think i need to speak about the egyption style, so i will head to the Ray music first.... i think all of u know cheb Khalid, and Cheb Mami, and other singer of this style. it is not an old style... invinted by algerians, and a mix between the folk music of algeria with the fast rhythm european music....it came out to the world through France, so many people think it's a french style.
the next style is not really famous worldwide. it is a folk style...light music (acoustic guitar...aud, etc)and sweet voices. social and live songs are the main themes....
the group of artists i know from this style are all in Spain, and they make thier records thier...first one, Nayol Alal..a sweet voice talented singer from western sahara republic. the second one is a girl, also from western sahara..sweet and embracing voice.
that is much it for the northren part of africa..
the whole purpose of these small biographies is to draw the attention of some of you to the african music...and trust me, u will never regret that experience...african music is so soulful, and it deserves more attraction from the world.
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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الاخ ياهو زاتو
تحياتي
كما هو واضح من مقالك المامك العميق بتاريخ الموسيقي الافريقية و اؤكد لك ان الكثير منا مغرم بالموسيقي بصفة عامة و تجدنا دائما نتوق الي معرفة خبايها من تاريخها الي مدلولاتها الفنية...بحوزتي تسجيلات مثيرة للاغنية الافريقية و اشعار , نظمت ابان فترة الاستعباد البغيضة , وكلها تعبر عن مدلولات و مواقف انسانية جديرة بالاهتمام.و يؤلمني جدا عدم المامي بتكنلوجيا البوردات من حيث انها تثنيني عن نشرها لكم بالبورد الاخ الاستاذ الموصلي قام مشكورا بشرح مفصل عن مسير الاغنية السودانية و لازال يخط لنا بقلمه المبدع عن خبايا الفن السوداني و حقا وجدت منا كل الاهتمام و المتابعة فأرجو منك مواصلة العطاء فكما تلاحظ من الكم العددي لذي زار بوستكم , مدي الاهتمام الذي رحبه مقالكم ..فلا تقصر من العطاء و لك جزيل الشكر و الثناء علي طرحكم المفيد
لك تحياتي و احترامي
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Re: THE AFRICAN MUSIC BIOGRAPHY (Re: Yaho_Zato)
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الاخ ياهو زاتو
مشكور جدا للمعلومات القيمة في خصوص موسيقي الجالوا واهدي اليك بالمقابل هذه الكلمات العميقة للشاعر والاديب الانجليزي و الافريقي الاصل مارتن كارتر
Poem of shape and session By Martin carter =========================
I was wondering if I could change this session, Just as I want it in solid fire, I was wondering the strange compositions of my days, The tension of the world inside me And the strength of my heart were enough, I was wondering If I could stand this cold, While the tied of sea rose in fields, If the sky would recede as I went, or the earth would emerge as I came, or the door of the morning knocked against the sun.
I was wondering if I could make myself, nothing but fire, pure and incorruptible, If the wound of the wind on my face, would be healed by the work of my life, or the growth of the pain in my sleep would be stopped by the stripes of my days.
I was wondering if the agony of years could be traced, to a seal of an hour, If the roots that spread out in the sum, run to deep for the issue of the flower, I was wondering If I could find myself, all that I am and all I could be, If all the populations of stars would, be less than the things I could utter, And the challenge of space in my soul be filled by the shape I become.
I walk slowly in the wind Watching myself in things I didn’t make, In jumping shadows and limiting cripples, Custom the earth and the house’s site, With thickness deep constant pain and dream without a sleep,
I walk slowly in the wind, Hearing myself in the loneliness of a child, In a woman’s greave which is not understood, In coughing dogs when midnight lingers long, in the stones, on the streets and then, in echoing stars that burn all night and suddenly go out.
I walk slowly in the wind, Knowing myself in every moving thing, In years in days and words that mean so much, Strong hands that shake, Long roots that walk, And deep status in themselves, And all this words and this life to live,
I walk slowly in the wind, Remembering bones and necked men and huts of iron ripped to earth All huts of iron stand up on this earth like rust in prisons, Each wall is marked and each wide roof is spread like some dark wing, Casting a shadow of our living course,
I walk slowly in the wind to lifted sunset, Red and gold and green, Along Brown River sank into an ocean, A fishing boat, A man how can’t drawn,
I walk slowly in the wind and birds are swift and sky is blue like silk
From the big sweeping ocean of water, an iron ship rusted in brown, anckered itself, and the long brown river, run silent and smooth,
I walk slowly in the wind I hear my footsteps echoing down the tie, Echoing like a wave on the sand, Or a wind on the wing, Echoing … echoing ……echoing A voice in the souls…. a laugh in the funny silent,
I walk slowly in the wind, I walk because I can’t carol or fly
Martin carter
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