Learning the Musical Arts in
Contemporary Africa
Volumes 1 & 2
Meki Nzewi
ISBN: 1-920051-25-0 (1)
& 1-920051-27-9(2)
210 mm x 297 mm
R180 each
About this publication
The contemporary African needs to gain a true and practical understanding of indigenous knowledge theory and principles. The post-colonial African classroom should therefore derive its principles, structure and content from Africa’s traditional musical heritage. It is crucial that emphasis be placed on practical experience in musical arts, creativity and performance, alongside a study of the traditional technological resources, science of music and mind, traditional strategies for mass communication and socio-political systems of the past and the present. Only then will the contemporary African be able to appreciate, discuss and practise music in the global context, with pride in a cultural, national and continental identity.
The aim of this book is to provide instructional material for musical arts education that derives primarily from African practice-based educational perspectives, theoretical principles and human experiences. Learning music in contemporary Africa discusses the indigenous musical arts system – the philosophy, theories, practices and applications – without losing sight of contemporary trends.
The approach emphasises indigenous African methodology. How and why music happens is dealt with as equally important as the facts of musical sound and presentation. The book is designed to enable the learner to experience music through inquiry, practical activities and critical observation. The book recognises the possibility that learners may already be capable performers, and is primarily intended to facilitate a literary approach to the known and/or unknown. Thus the learners perform and discuss the musical arts orally while being progressively introduced to the written approach.