Post by Stephen on Jun 19, 2006 17:58:14 GMT -5
First published in 1985 and reissued in 2001 by the Intercultural Institute of Montreal, this journal, part of the "Profils culturels" collection, has served teachers, researchers, students, and seekers of exoticism, as well as Africans searching for their roots.
The table of contents of this concise document lists the following:
Part 1 - Chapters
1. General Information
2. Important Concepts
3. Family Sturcture
4. Society
5. Education
6. Medicine in Africa
7. The Ecomomy
8. Politics and Justice in Africa
9. Religious Values
10. Art in Africa
Part 2 - The African Community in Montreal
Part 3 - Africa in Mutation
The following is a quote from Chapter 10, Art in Africa - The Meaning of Music.
"One does not make music simply to please the ear. The man who makes it should have something to say, to bring to the community. The music should express an activity. distress, a natural or supernatural force, a sentiment, etc. Deprived of meaning, it loses its reason for being. Music is valued, and it should be. Thus one does not play just anything, anyhow, anywhere. Not just anybody plays any instrument. There is music which is played once a year, once a century to accompany a special ceremony, annually, monthly, or daily. Why not? For certain religious celebrations, it is the children who play the music. Since a child is very pure or in any case considered without sin, it is up to him to play such music.
Certain religious music is made only by the great initiates. Often gender is taken into account: among the Minianka, only women have the right to play the "Djale." Among the Minianka, a woman does not have the right to play the tambour (a drum) or bollon. All things considered, to make music in Africa is not as simple as one might think."
This journal gives clarity in a straightforward manner; it could essentially be a description of why I feel the publication of Yaya's music is so significant.
Stephen Conroy, Producer/Publisher
Onzou Records, www.onzou.com
A link to the Intercultural Institute of Montreal follows.
Excerpt reproduced with permission from copyright owner - INTERCULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MONTREAL, 4917 St. Urbain, Montreal, QC, CANADA H2T 2W1 http://www.iim.qc.ca--Email: info@iim.qc.ca
The table of contents of this concise document lists the following:
Part 1 - Chapters
1. General Information
2. Important Concepts
3. Family Sturcture
4. Society
5. Education
6. Medicine in Africa
7. The Ecomomy
8. Politics and Justice in Africa
9. Religious Values
10. Art in Africa
Part 2 - The African Community in Montreal
Part 3 - Africa in Mutation
The following is a quote from Chapter 10, Art in Africa - The Meaning of Music.
"One does not make music simply to please the ear. The man who makes it should have something to say, to bring to the community. The music should express an activity. distress, a natural or supernatural force, a sentiment, etc. Deprived of meaning, it loses its reason for being. Music is valued, and it should be. Thus one does not play just anything, anyhow, anywhere. Not just anybody plays any instrument. There is music which is played once a year, once a century to accompany a special ceremony, annually, monthly, or daily. Why not? For certain religious celebrations, it is the children who play the music. Since a child is very pure or in any case considered without sin, it is up to him to play such music.
Certain religious music is made only by the great initiates. Often gender is taken into account: among the Minianka, only women have the right to play the "Djale." Among the Minianka, a woman does not have the right to play the tambour (a drum) or bollon. All things considered, to make music in Africa is not as simple as one might think."
This journal gives clarity in a straightforward manner; it could essentially be a description of why I feel the publication of Yaya's music is so significant.
Stephen Conroy, Producer/Publisher
Onzou Records, www.onzou.com
A link to the Intercultural Institute of Montreal follows.
Excerpt reproduced with permission from copyright owner - INTERCULTURAL INSTITUTE OF MONTREAL, 4917 St. Urbain, Montreal, QC, CANADA H2T 2W1 http://www.iim.qc.ca--Email: info@iim.qc.ca