Year 8 Music – Knowledge Organiser – African Music !

YEAR 8 – WEST AFRICAN MUSIC – KNOWLEDGE ORGANISER

! The Djembe WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING MUSIC - CONTEXT ! • A skin covered hand drum, shaped like large Africa is a HUGE continent with a rich and diverse cultural and musical history. There are many types of musical styles and ! goblet band and meant to be played with bare traditions to come from Africa. We are focusing on drumming styles ! hands. ! popular in West Africa. • The name comes from the saying “Anke die, anke ! Here are two specific examples of different ethnic groups from West be” which translates as “everyone gather Africa. See if you can find more examples of their music: ! together”, and defines the purpose of the drum. ! Ewe People – • West African group, with significant populations in Ghana, Togo & ! Benin. DJEMBE PLAYING TECHNIQUES ! • Speak the Ewe language and follow a variety of religions. BASS A deep, resonant sound that can • ! • Drumming traditions have influenced Afro-Caribbean music and be felt low down in the body. ! jazz.

• The hand strikes the centre of the • Use of bells and shakers important, as well as drums drum ! • Tradition of the master drummer. TONE This has a ringing ! • high pitched Mandinka – tone ! • West African ethnic group, with significant populations in The • Played with the fingers together, ! Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Ivory Coast. hitting the top/periphery of the ! drum. ! • Islamic groups, diverse range of languages spoken SLAP • This is a short, sharp and loud ! • The djembe believed to have originated with the Mandinka people, sound, but should not be a ! and forms a large part of their drumming tradition as well as the continuous sound. ! ! dun dun. • The edge of the drum is struck ! • The Kora, a melodic instrument, also plays a huge role in the with the fingers slightly apart. musical life of the Mandinka.

KEY FEATURES OF AFRICAN MUSIC TRADITIONAL AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS Ostinato A repeated musical pattern Drums – Djembe, Dununs (doundounba, sangban, kenkeni), Improvisation When music is made up on the spot Talking Drum, Kpanlogo, Atsimevu, Fontomfrom (only played Polyrhythm Two or more rhythmic patterns playing at the for Kings and Chiefs!) – There are LOTS of different types of same time African drums. Syncopation Notes played on the off beat Xylophone – Balafon Cross Rhythms Effect when two conflicting rhythms are Bells – dunun bell, gankogui bell heard together Shakers – caxixi, gourd rattles, djembe shakers, Shekere Call & Response When a musical phrase is directly answered Thumb Pianos – Mbira, Karimba by another phrase String Instruments – Kora, Ngoni Oral Tradition Music that is not written down but instead passed down by word of mouth