Documenting Distinctive Features of Indigenous Bapedi Music
Keywords:
Bapedi people, indigenous music, Bapedi music tradition, religion, well-being.Abstract
In the Bapedi music tradition, characteristics, and the role of indigenous music in the community is one area that requires scholarly attention. An investigation into the use and influence of pure, natural, and authentic indigenous music in the context of religion and wellbeing is inevitable. The purpose of this study was to investigate the significant role played by indigenous music in the daily lives of Bapedi people, as well as the characteristics of the music. To address the objectives of the study, the following primary research question was considered: what is the cultural relevance of indigenous Bapedi music? The primary sources for data collection include observations and oral interviews that were conducted through face-to-face interaction. The interviews were aimed at eliciting first-hand information on the knowledge of the subject matter. The secondary sources included among others, materials such as journal articles, books and theses, and of course personal experience. The results have shown that indigenous Bapedi music is a social activity in which everyone participates and requires coordinated cooperation. It was concluded that Bapedi people use a wide variety of sounds within a single performance. The impression created during observations and interviews was that music rhythm and percussive sounds are highly emphasized in indigenous Bapedi music.
References
Aluede, C. O. 2012. Music as Edae: The implications of music therapy in Nigeria. Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities (UJAH), Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012), pp. 74-91.
Amlor, M. Q. 2016. Imparting Indigenous Knowledge through traditional forms of entertainment: The role of Ewe Play Games. World Journal of Social Science (2016), Volume 3, No. 2, pp. 63-74.
Boer, D. & Abubakar, A. 2014. Music listening in families and peer groups: benefits for young people’s social cohesion and emotional well-being across four cultures. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 6 (May 2014), Article 392, pp. 1-15.
Breidlid, A. 2009. Culture, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and sustainable development: A critical view of Education in an African context. International Journal of Educational Development, Volume 29 (2009), pp. 140-148.
Demmrich, S. 2020. Music as a trigger of religious experience: what role does culture play? Psychology of Music (2020), Vol. 48 (1), pp. 35-49.
Ekanem, F. E. 2012. On Ontology of African Philosophy. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, Volume 1, Issue 1 (December 2012), pp. 54-58.
Eze, M. O. & Van der Wal, K. 2020. Beyond Sovereign Reason: Issues and Contestations in contemporary African Identity. Journal of common market studies (JCMS) 2020, Volume 58, Number 1, pp. 189-205.
Flandreau, S. 2016. “African and African-Influenced Sacred Music”, The Journal of Traditions & Beliefs, Volume 2, Article 6, pp. 1-6.
Frith, S. 2004. Music and Identity. London and New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Idang, G. E. 2015. African culture and values. Phronimon, Volume 16, Number 2 (2015), pp. 97-111.
Gearing, F. et al. 1975. A Cultural Theory of Education. Council on Anthropology and Education Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 2., Structures of Censorship, Usually Inadvertent: Studies in a Cultural Theory of Education (May 1975), pp. 1-9.
Ikechukwu, K. A. 2013. African Identity and the Emergence of Globalisation. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, Volume 3, N0. 6, June (2013), pp. 34-42.
Lebaka, M.E.K. 2017. Transmission Processes of Indigenous Pedi Music. Jyv?skyl?, Finland: University Library of Jyv?skyl?.
Lebaka, M.E.K. 2023. The significant role played by long social connections and a pleasant interactive experience among traditional Bapedi music practitioners. European Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 1-11.
Le Roux, F. H. & Sauer, C. 2016. Integration of spirituality, music and emotions in health care. Music & Medicine (2016), Volume 8, Issue 4, pp. 162-169.
Luhrmann, T. M. et al. 2021. Sensing the presence of gods and spirits across cultures and faiths. PNAS 2021, Vol. 118, No. 5, pp. 1-8.
Maila, M. W. & Loubser, C. P. 2003. Emancipatory Indigenous Knowledge Systems: implications for environmental education in South Africa. South African Journal of Education, Vol. 23(4), pp. 276-280.
Mbaegbu, C. C. 2015. The effective Power of Music in Africa. Open Journal of Philosophy (2015), Volume 5, pp. 176-183.
Mkabela, Q. 2005. Using the Afrocentric method in researching African culture. The Qualitative Report (TQR) 10 (1), pp. 178-189.
Ndemanu, M. T. 2018. Traditional African religions and their influences on the worldviews of Bangwa people in Cameroon: Expanding the cultural horizons of study abroad students and professionals. Frontiers: The interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, Vol. XXX, Issue 1 (January 2018), pp. 70-84.
Ruud, E. 2013. Can music serve as a “cultural immunogen”? An explorative study. Int. J. Qualitative Stud Health Well-being (2013); 20597, pp. 1-12.
Silverman, M. 2018. I drum, I sing, I dance: An ethnographic study of a West African drum and dance ensemble. Research Studies in Music Education (2018), Vol. 40 (1), pp. 5-27.
Stevenson, N. 2018. Developing cultural understanding through story-telling. Journal of teaching in travel & tourism (2019), Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 8-21.
Teffera, T. 2006. The role of traditional music among East African societies: The Case of selected Aerophones. Proceedings from the 16th International Meeting, ICTM Study Group on Folk Musical Instruments, pp. 36-49.
