Culture of Africa

Lesson 14: The Cultural Legacy of West Africa Section 2

By Jennifer Trice

Open Ended

Number below and answer:

1. Think of your favorite song. Type the title and artist of it. 

2. How do you feel when you listen to this song? Why is it your favorite? For example... does it brighten your day? Does it pump you up before a big game? Does it relax you?

​West African Music

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Music has always been an important part of life in West Africa. It serves many functions in society. It communicates ideas, values, and feelings. It celebrates historic events and important occasions in people's lives. For instance, there are certain songs for weddings, celebrations, or ceremonies honoring ancestors.

Listen to the clip of traditional West African music.

​Call & Response

a song style in which a singer or musician leads with a call and a group responds with a short and simple response

Enslaved Africans brought call-and-response songs to the Americas. Slaves used the songs to ease the burden of hard work, celebrate social occasions, or express outrage at their situation.

Multiple Choice

When composing a call and response section the response should be?

• Short and simple

• The same as the call

• Complicated

• Played really fast

​Drumming

​

Drummers perform during parties, religious meetings, and ceremonies.

​

Their drums are made out of hollowed out logs or pieces of wood.

​

West African slaves brought their drumming traditions to the Americas. 

​Musical Instruments

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Traditional musical instruments in West Africa include three that have been used for centuries:

- balafon

- ngoni

- kora

Multiple Choice

What is an important feature in West African music?

• drumming
• horns
• singing
• worship

​Dance

​Dances are performed for all kinds of occasions.

They dance during rituals and ceremonies that mark important events in people's lives. They also dance to seek the help of spirits and to connect with dead ancestors.

Influence on America

• Enslaved Africans brought their music and drumming to America.

• Jazz, gospel, blues, rock and roll, and rap are all influenced by West African musical styles.​

• Because slaves could communicate through drumming, slaves were not allowed to make or own them.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is one effect of African slaves bringing their music to the Americas?

• The balafon is a popular instrument in South America.

• Their music has influenced jazz, rock, and rap music.

• The griots’ songs continue to be sung in North America.

Multiple Choice

How did African culture and traditions spread to the Americas?

• Africans immigrated there after Christopher Columbus colonized the New World

• African slaves were brought to the New World

• Muslim traders rode caravans there and brought their culture with them

• Europeans copied their traditions and brought them to the colonies their countries established

Multiple Choice

Which modern musical genre was influenced by African music?

• Jazz

• Rap and hip hop

• Funk

• Blues

• All are correct

Multiple Choice

What two resources were most important in West Africa?

• camel and donkey

• salt and pepper

• gold and silver

• gold and salt