Home
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| 04.06.01 | Articles about Busi
Mlongo, Mose Se Sengo
"Fan Fan",
Oliver "Tuku" Mtukidzi, Ballake Sissoko, Franko and OK Jazz, Youssou N'dour, Bana, Simentera, and more |
| 08.06.01 | Baaba Maal, Hukwe Zawose |
| 10.06.01 | Some articles about Madagascar,
artists and Malagasy instruments, an articles about Thomas
Mapfumo, Samba Mapangala,
and some small articles about Mozambican artists |
| 12.06.01 | An small article about Rwanda, and the civil war there. |
| 14.06.01 | Updates at Benim, and Burkina Faso. |
| 18.06.01 | First start at a African Culture page. |
| 21.06.01 | Updates at African Cultures pages (more than 35 ethnic groups described). And some fact updates in the country articles. |
| 19.07.01 | Black Umfolozi |
| 08.10.01 | Baka Beyond |
| 13.03.02 | Forward Kwenda |
A African Djembe Drum |
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Ed's corner:
The "Editor of Africa pages" (Tim Øsleby) isn't an expert on Africa and African music. To me, writning and editing these pages has been a "learning by doing" experience. The Africa pages is a result of this process (if you want look at some of the sources, try these Links.(Want to know me (Tim Øsleby) better? Then take a look at my privat Homepage)
It all started as a strong urge to dig in the roots of the blues and the jazz. I listened, collected information, and listened more. Gradually it turned into something else, I wanted to reaseach the rhythms. This project grew into a obcecion. I started to write a personal home page dedicated to African Music. Then I got the idea. "How about joining forces with other people, with more knowlegde. I made contact with David Pottier from Canada and Araceli Sánchez from Spain. Suddenly I realiced that they had the same ideas. And EthnoBass started.
It is our hope that this pages will turn into a dwell of information and inspiration. But until then, there may be some incorrect information here. If you want to shoot me, please don't. But if you want to correct me, or fulfill some of the incompleteness - please contact me, use the "Contact Us" button at the buttom at this page (or anywhere else at the site). If you want to contribute with written material or pictures, please feel free to do. (Read the Contribute page first).
All unsigned articles and text at the Africa pages and related pages are written by me, "Editor of Africa pages".
Introduction:
Africa is a very complex continent. With over 700 spoken languages, and several of hundreds of ethnic groups (some say over 1000). It's a shifting patch of tribes, boarders and states. In many way's it's a continent of extremely richness with it's natural resources, and it's extremely rich cultural resources. Still, these resources has not been used to their full extent. The major reason of this is that most African states has been colonized for centuries.People trying to describe african music and culture often rules out
the states north of Sahara and parts of the eastern coast. Inside this
area we find some common denominators, first the mbira
(a thumb piano), second the call
and response singing (and playing), and at last the dominant place
of the drums, and use of 6/8 beat. Outside this area the culture is basically
arabic and arabic influenced.
African history.
African history is the history of colonization. And colonization is known from the main authors home country, Norway, and I would like to draw some paralels. This may sound strange or odd, but give me a minute, let me try to explain. Even though the differences between Africa and Norway are enormous, also when it comes to history, There are some parallels. Norway was a Danish and Swedish colony for four centuries. In and before the "liberationproces" (it was a relative peaceful one), there was a great concerne for a own Norwegian identity. There was a political need for a special identity. To become independent you have to be some one, have an identity. This is simple, basic psycologi. Every individual experinces this in their childhood. After decolonysation we had a very strong consciousness about our own identity. This is not morethan 100 years ago, and we still have.The ironic thing is that we also have a tendency to admire everything that's american or from the greater nations from Europe. This gives an odd mix of "feeling of inferiority", and "megalomania".
Among a lot of people of Africa today, Anglo-American, and Anglo-Americam music is considered as "the real thing", this comes from a feeling of inferioroty. And my prediction is that many states will develop the same silly megalomania as in Norway in near future.
This has nothing with the heading to do, sorry. But try here. There you'll find some more.
Links.
AfricanHipHop.com. Description: The home of Pan African Hip Hop. This web site, originally called 'Rumba-Kali' was initiated in February 1997 as a platform for information and discussion on hip hop from the African continent.African Music Encyclopedia. A very nice and informative Web site. Description: "an online encyclopedia of African music, World Music, International music"
Africamix. A nonprofit volunteer-based art and music Festival traveling Africa and the African diasphera. The purpose is to promote global awareness and prevention on child abuse and neglect. The Festival is touring US, Canada, France, England and 16 African countryes from june to september.
Africa Sounds Description: one of the leading informational sources on the Internet and World Wide Web for up-to-date information on modern African music. Although the site's original focus was Central Africa (music from Congo and Cameroon), the strong interest and encouragement that we have received has allowed the site to evolve and expand to music from the entire continent of Africa as well as the vast styles found in the Diaspora. For example, artists from the Caribbean and Latin America are constantly featured on the "On Tour" section of the site.
Afrikool Music Production Description: Imagine a sound that crosses without watering down the best of ancient and traditional African rhythms with modern, progressive pop. Afrikool is a music production company for the “World”. We represent a natural bridge between our various cultures and diverse musical genres.
Afropop Worldwide.A "Bible" in African music of today, with a lot of nice background stuff. But as the title suggests, it's mainly about afro pop and pop related music. Description: African music at its best, presented with rigor and style by the experts at the Afropop Worldwide radio show. Immerse yourself in Africa's music and people: Listen to the shows. Search the huge database of African musicians, African bands, African music styles, African music albums -- everything about African pop and African music!
CIA - The World Fact Book 2000 The main author of Africa pages hates to admit it (beeing anti NATO), but this is a dwell of concrete information!
Cora Connection: The Manding Music Traditions of West Africa: A information resource dedicated to West African music and culture, maily about Kora, Ngoni and Balafon. Decription: Cora Connection provides information on the folk music traditions of West Africa. Cora Connection sells hard to find recordings, professional quality instruments and offers educational workshops.
EthnoBeat.Discussion group. A great inspiration for me, and most of my co-writers.
Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique Description: African Popular Music, Artists, Discographies & CDs. Currently over 125 artists and bands featured
Kora All African Music Awards. OBJECTIVES: Kora's objectives are firstly, to promote African Artists and their works internationally. Subsequently to unite Africa and its Diaspora through music and the arts. Finally, to Produce a world-class television show that portrays a positive image of Africa.
The Leopardman's African Music Guide A nice and intelligent site made by the Norwegian writer, Bjørn-Erik Hanssens. Large parts of the site is translated to English, he is even wotking at a version in Swahili.
Rakumi Arts International. Smooth looking and nice site. Description: Founded in 1989, Rakumi Arts is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA. We are engaged in a continuing effort to provide more and better information about Africa, its music and arts, and its peoples, through the promotion and presentation of concerts and performances, films, lectures, and other public events Pacific Northwest and beyond.
World Music Portal A very nice and informative site, with articles about artists, instruments, some CD-reviews, tour dates, genres (styles), and so on.
Your dot com for Africa Wellwritten and interesting American online magazine about Africa and African culture. A great place to look for knowlegde about Africa. Description: "Your dot com for Africa" is a week-end internet magazine for people who want to learn about Africa, particularly good for teachers and students, and anyone else who feels they need to learn more about this vast continent. Our motto is, "Let's delve into this together." The site is managed from a suburb of Washington, DC.
Another extremely valuable source is the book: The Rough Guide World Music, volume 1, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The Rough Guide Cd's has also been inspiring for this work.
