African influence in music - a review of 4 artists!

1. In reviewing interviews and music videos as presented on the AfroPop world wide website there are four artist and their interviews that were of interest for their music or introspection offered throughout their interviews. To support a better understanding of this music, chapters 14 and 15 in the text African Studies provided terminology in which to add perspective to a genre of unfamiliar music. What is common to these artists are their roots in Africa and their eventual migration to a different country.

1. Amadou et Mariam Folila are a blind couple that originated their music in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire that migrated to Paris. They are talented pair that typifies the term “ethnomusicology”. This term is described in the cultural significance to help understand the music. Amadoe et Mariam Folila, have been described as true to their roots by utilizing a “call and response” methodology in their songs that is common in African music. In one video, this couple’s methods are featured in conjunction with a song featured in the popular movie “Twilight”. It and features a style continuum that incorporates both a traditional call response, nicely blended with a folk song feel provided by the partnering with the group “The Magic Numbers”.
2. Mamadoe Diabate is called a storyteller and uses a traditional instrument made just for him called a “Kora”. As you listen to his light melodious music, one is reminded of the influence this type of music has to jazz as it follows an improvised melody that is common in African-American jazz.
3. KG Omulo is an artist that is described as “Afro-urban. Listening to his song “moving train appears to be a blend of Reggae, R & B and without the expertise of an African musical history, but from a novice interpretation seems to be moving away from a traditional African sound.
4. The interview by Angelique Kidjo was by far the most interesting in that her influences such as Miriam Makeba and the intentional ethnomusicology in her performance embrace African music. As with the other artist she too moved out of Africa, but is heavily involved in provided the cultural context within her music. In the interview she speaks of “mother Africa” and how seeing the beauty in the continent is reflective of the beauty inside those who embrace it.

The artist that I chose with the exception of KG Omulo, tend to either feature a visual or musical link to African traditional African music. They all tend to blend both influences from other genres such as reggae and pop but still use African languages in many songs.