Native American and African Music-Cultures

We learn a lot of cool stuff in class about Native American and African cultures. It is fascinating how much of a difference there is between the two cultures. While Native American music is about god, African music is about war.
I was fascinated by Navajo music in Native American cultures. The music is considered holy music that cures sickness such as cancer. The people that sing the songs are called Medicine People. Navajo music is used in rituals that last up to ten days. It is the longest ritual. The ritual restores the balance between good and bad. The ritual itself is a call to god to restore a person's harmony and balance.

Another interesting music in Native American cultures is Haudenosaunee music. Haudenosaunee music is mostly sung in a call-and-response form. What makes the Haudenosaunee music interesting to me is the vocables. It is open-throated and relaxed. The dance of the Haudenosaunee music is mostly stomping. Bells are tied to the dancer's feet so whenever the dancers stomp their feet they are making music.

The most interesting of all in Native American cultures is powwow music. Powwow music is performed by many tribes of Native Americans. Drums are really important in powwow music. Drums are important in Native Americans music. Native Americans would gather around a drum. They would beat it in unison while singing in a high, tense, and loud voice. The dance of powwow music is stomping. The dancers would have bells tied to their feet so whenever they dance they are making music.

Agbekor is singing and drumming which is considered a war dance. The music itself engage in the subject of war. Some songs celebrate the victory of Ewe's war and some are reflections of the grief of death. The instruments used in Agbekor are double bell, a gourd rattle, and four single-headed drums. Agbekor songs are sung in a call-and-response form. Agbekor could be sung at a fast or slow pace.

Lunsi is an interesting drum of African music. The drum is in an hourglass shape with a snare in each of its heads. It has a shoulder strap that holds it in place and a curved, wooden stuck is used to hit it. The leather cords strung between the drumheads are used to change to the tension of the drum. Players can change the tension of the drum by squeezing and releasing the leather cords.













Nhemamusasa is a unique musical instrument. It is known as a thumb piano. It has a wooden board attached with attached staggered metal tines. It is played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. Sometimes it would be inside a big gourd. This is often an important instrument played at religious ceremonies or religious gatherings.