The Bard in African History

Part A.

The koonting, a three stringed plucked instrument among the Mandingos, sounds similar to a modern day guitar, which would have four or five strings that are plucked. This musical sound would have found its way into current forms of Black music by way of the blues movement, when black musicians would pluck their sounds on acoustic guitars. Blues became very popular and influential in America. It is still a form of music that figures predominantly in Black music today. It is also something that spans generations, as I listen to it, my father listens to it, and my grandparents listened to it as well.

Part B:

1. What is one limitation that Southern mentions impacts our understanding of West African music?

One limitation is that a lot of the historical record comes from the reporting of Europeans and colonizers rather than from West Africans themselves.

2. What is the relation to customs/rituals in West African culture and music according to Southern?

There was a special musical approach for every custom and ritual. As Southern states, “Ceremonial music composed the largest part of the musical repertory of a village or a people” (p. 5). This was often for a religious ritual, but also for rites associated with war, birth, marriage, or anything of significance in the lives of the people.