http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#43046c98-f7d6-444e-bf65-6658895ad8a0 would you call blues, ranchera, rock, jazz, banda, swing, be-bop, all "north american music"? sure. but if you were giving a workshop on, say, jazz drumming, would you expect people to respond to a flyer that said "north american drumming workshop"? consider this analogy. Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:25:22 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#43046c98-f7d6-444e-bf65-6658895ad8a0 blue-j 2006-10-21T07:25:22Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#dc628302-bc2e-471b-a1bc-4ae5748df1b7 i'm not splitting hairs on political incorrectness, just suggesting more precision -- the same degree of precision afforded possibly more familiar traditions. sometimes it is appropriate to talk of things in terms of their continent or region, other times it's wise to be specific to the tradition and subregion/country. people too often use the adjective "african drumming" to mean traditional ensemble playing from ghana. it's just imprecise. Sat, 21 Oct 2006 07:22:16 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#dc628302-bc2e-471b-a1bc-4ae5748df1b7 blue-j 2006-10-21T07:22:16Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#c8c66358-d617-43c2-86dd-4d7787a3f5b3 Well spoken, sir. Fri, 20 Oct 2006 16:48:21 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#c8c66358-d617-43c2-86dd-4d7787a3f5b3 Angus 2006-10-20T16:48:21Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#5adbdbcf-4d30-4206-a7e7-a3721c5144b3 It's interesting to note that when Maya Angelou, the former poet laureate of the United States and self identified as an African American Woman, went to visit, "Mama Africa" as a pilgrimage, it is reported that she was shocked that the people she met in each country she visited couldn't relate to the concept of Africa. They thought of themselves as Liberians or Ghanaians or Senegalese and saw no bond between theses different tribes and ethnic groups. The concept of Africa is a colonial concept, foisted onto all the people who live there by the European powers who conquered them (and made the maps originally that we now take for granted). The Libyans have as much in common with Shona people as the Tibetans do with the South Vietnamese, yet we wouldn't say we play Asian music. We would say we play Japanese music or Chinese music or whatever. The point of this discussion is not to make right and wrong, so much as to give respect to the cultures where art emanates from. I feel like when one studies to play a kind of music from a culture that we are not from originally that it is very incumbent upon us to have deep respect and humility in regards to the naming of names and styles of music and dance. And I truly don't mean some kind of mostly 'white middle class guilt'. Just respect and a desire to be truly knowledgeable about learning a tradition that is not originally ours. The Djembe has gone all over the world (some people would even say in a 'cancerous' fashion due to the fact that it has begun to wipe out many beautiful but softer styles of music in places like the Caribbean) but it is very important to know that it is not thought of as an African drum in the countries of it's origin......................it is a Malinke drum found in slightly varying forms in the countries of Senegal , Guinea, Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Fasso, Mali, Guinea Bissau, etc.. I've studied with 5 master drummers from different countries in this region who would all be insulted to have the drum called an African drum and not, say, a Senegalese drum. This is why I am , personally, uncomfortable to have Congolese Ngomas, Senegalese Djembes (which, by the way is not pronounced with an 'M' in it as is commonly misunderstood here) and Nigerian Donos all lumped in as African drums. They are different drums with completely different techniques playing completely different rhythms from cultures that are very disparate from each other culturally and spiritually. That being said and done................I think it's wonderful that everybody here is learning all the things about these drumming styles that they are. With respect, Rick Walker Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:48:06 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#5adbdbcf-4d30-4206-a7e7-a3721c5144b3 Rick 2006-10-20T09:48:06Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#6782fe26-40ae-469e-9f9f-b81c4b57c343 Here Here Eric Hassa!!!! There is no doubt that Africa has many different styles, for instance music from Morroco, Lybia, Algeria, Sudan, Etheopia and Egypt is very Arabic in style. Where as music from the Congo to the mid west African coast is very tribal in style. Then South Africa is a rich blend of styles from tribal to modern English due to their long British occupation. But non the less, Eric is right, all of these styles are African and as such there is no disrespect to any of these nations or regeons by saying that their drumming is African because they are all from Africa!!! Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:40:58 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#6782fe26-40ae-469e-9f9f-b81c4b57c343 Gary 2006-10-19T18:40:58Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#caccb0db-e851-4c14-adca-77eac28d8f7b I don't think it's politically incorrect or offensive to say "African drums" or "African music" and yes each country, village, etc.. is widely diverse in language and music. I've read dozens of times, musicians from India refer to the music they play as "Indian music" Native Americans say "Native Amercian music" Middle Eastern, South American and so on, in addition to describing the diversity of regional music. By describing musical instruments geographically is not being offensive to a culture ot it's music in my opinion. For a drummer to give a Djembe workshop and call it "African drumming" how is this offensive? The Djembe is used in many countries, as I'm sure you already know. Is the workshop teacher supposed to be politically correct by listing all of the countries in which the Djembe is played, and avoid using "Africa" in the description of the workshop? Is it offensive to say so and so is a "Rock drummer" when there are so many different and diverse genres of Rock music? Is it just as offensive to say "American Folk Music"? When we all know that there are similarities and yet vast differences between Delta Blues and Kentucky mountain music? Yet it all comes under the umbrella of "American Folk Music." Much of these American musics come from Europe (England, Scotland, Wales, etc..) anyway! Is this offensive as well? To say "All African music is the same" is offensive as well as incorrect. I think most people on this Tribe are smart enough to know how they are speaking. I play Middle Eastern and North African percussion, these are terms my teachers use to describe what they play from their homeland, if it's good enough for them, than it's also good enough for me. I play Derbeki, Def, Bendir, and Riq, many of these are used throughout Arabic countries, as well as Israeli, Turkish, Armenian and more, with each culture's music being different than the other. How is this inappropriate for anyone to say "I play Middle Eastern percussion"? I think you're splitting hairs. With Respect, -Eric Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:20:21 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#caccb0db-e851-4c14-adca-77eac28d8f7b Eric 2006-10-19T18:20:21Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#3c5d6a9d-120c-4043-bb8d-4e8a8291212e In all fairness, we don't really talk much at all on this tribe in the first place. :P Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:32:31 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#3c5d6a9d-120c-4043-bb8d-4e8a8291212e Spencer.... 2006-10-18T17:32:31Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#e86695c1-5073-40e6-b620-0f14af4b0dd3 here, here, glad someone said it. Jeff. Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:17:59 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#e86695c1-5073-40e6-b620-0f14af4b0dd3 Rick 2006-10-18T08:17:59Z http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#8350eb7e-61c5-4ef6-946e-95a716208090 we need to stop talking about "african drums," giving workshops on "african drums," etc. africa is an enormous continent with ancient and modern traditions, and there is not one style to be called "african." ghana does not equal africa. if we are to do justice to the diversity of peoples and musical styles in the continent, it would be better to be more specific when we talk! Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:31:59 GMT http://ilikedrums.tribe.net/thread/f453e93b-8f40-48d1-9d82-c779dab3fbb2#8350eb7e-61c5-4ef6-946e-95a716208090 blue-j 2006-10-17T01:31:59Z