Africa: Drum, Chant & Instrumental Music

Explorer Series: West Africa - Drum, Chant And Instrumental Music

The people of the semi-arid bush country of West Africa depend on music to nourish nearly every phase of their lives. In the ceremonies and rituals celebrating birth, marriage, initiations, and formal religious worship, music prescribed for the occasion is performed by professional musicians and constitutes an essential element of the event. Ordinary daily activities are surrounded by many types of folk music, such as work songs, solo instrumental improvisations, medicinal music, the music of wandering minstrels, spontaneous songs, and music performed purely for the participants’ enjoyment. Dedicated young musicians are often heard practicing from sunrise to sunset. Even the young children form musical groups that can be heard beating out captivating rhythms on bottles, kerosene tins, and other objects.

African gods are believed to be great music-lovers who scorn performances that lack energetic animation. The quantity and variety of music in African society reflect the deeply religious attitude of the people. Besides passing on philosophical knowledge from one person or group to another, religious music helps to create and strengthen the unity between the people’s beliefs and their everyday lives. Striving constantly for perfection in every aspect of their music, Africans illustrate the reality of an old saying: “When the music is sweet, even the crippled will wish to dance.”

TRACK LISTINGS

1. Hausa Street Music
2. Bounkam Solo - Isah Hamani
3. Kountougi Solo - Ahem Mediferai
4. Djerma Dundun Drummers
5. Tuareg Medicinal Chant
6. Lodagaa Wiiks and Gulu
7. Songhay Kombi and Ettebel
8. Kouco Solo Listen
9. Songhay Gulu Drummers

Recorded in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso by Stephen Jay

FLAC (EAC Rip): 250 MB | MP3 - 320 kbs: 50 MB | Scans

Archives have 5% of the information for restoration

FLAC
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

OR MP3 320 kbps
HERE