Influence Of Colonialism On African Music

University of Oklahoma

The Influence of European Colonialism in African Music

By Eugenia Galan

MUNM 3113

Dr. David Howard

January 9th, 2017

"Music is a vital aspect of the daily lives of people throughout sub-Saharan Africa." In their book, "World Music: A Global Journey", Miller and Andrew recognized that music is the epitome of Africa as it represents a great sense of culture and identity. Therefore, the act of altering, or influencing the music of Africa can be likened to the obliteration of African culture and identity. Solomon O. Ikibe, a professor at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria published many books and publications in the performing arts of African music. In his book, 'The Impacts of Slavery and Colonialism on African Traditional Music and Dance Performance', Ikibe

From the official language being a European language in countries like Angola and Zimbabwe, to the evolvement of new, western-influenced music in South Africa, Colonialism has left an imperative mark on the countries of Africa. Evidently, the people of Africa are made up with the great influence of the Colonial times and most of their music known today has been birthed or influenced by the settlers. There are many layers that the Europeans have embedded their beliefs on the people. It cannot be denied that music is a subtle tool of the European colonists to integrate their beliefs into the African people. Chikowero said that the colonists used music "as a weapon to undermine African sovereignty and, on the other, how Africans similarly deployed their musical cultures to tell their own stories, reclaim their freedom, and reconstitute their being” (Chikowero 2, 65). While the debates ensue of the tainting of traditional African music, it cannot be denied that the Era of Colonialism has imprinted deeply in the music of the