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Africa: South of the Sahara

Various Artists
Africa: South of the Sahara

This 1957 compilation attempts to provide a musical overview of the entire Sub–Saharan region, and also represents the scholarly contribution of American ethnomusicologist Alan P. Merriam (1923 — 1980) to the Folkways catalog. Merriam, who is best remembered for the book The Anthropology of Music, produced the album and provided an essay and track notes. This title went a long way towards dispelling prejudices and misconceptions listeners of the time may have had about African music. Merriam wrote, “The African music system works by its own rules and satisfies those who play it and sing it; it is neither necessarily older nor younger nor better nor worse.”

RELATED LESSON PLANS
"Music of 'The Seventh Continent'"
"The Complete Evolution of Trinidadian Pan Music…Abridged."

*Content Advisory: The terminology used in some of the song titles and descriptive notes for this album reflect outdated, inaccurate language. Many names used to refer to Indigenous people were imposed by outsiders and are often considered derogatory. We are working to update the terminology to the name preferred by the people themselves, as well as to consult with the community and descendants of artists on this album. Please see our Shared Stewardship page for more information.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

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101
Male soloist and mixed chorus with handclapping
02:10
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102
Male soloist and mixed chorus with drums, whistling, handclapping
02:14
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103
Chopi timbila (xylophone) ensemble, Witswatersrand Gold Mine
01:03
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104
Male singer with mixed chorus
00:43
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105
San male singers, Kalahari
01:22
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106
San male singers, Kalahari
02:15
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107
Motswana man and chorus
01:02
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108
Motswana man and chorus
01:07
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109
Motswana man and second male voice
00:34
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110
Luchazi man with chorus and drums
01:07
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111
Nganguela man with chorus and drums
01:25
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112
Girls and women of the house of the King's mother in Shyogwe
03:29
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113
Royal Drums of the Tutsi
02:29
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114
Twa male singer and chorus
03:22
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115
Hororo man playing flute
01:29
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116
Masirika Pimapima
02:57
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117
Mbuti men and women, Kivu region
02:45
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118
Chorus of Mbuti men
01:08
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119
Chorus of Mbuti men
01:24
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120
Chorus of Mbuti men
01:05
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121
Bapende xylophone players, chorus
02:45
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122
Bapende sansa player, chorus
01:08
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123
Migrant workers from Sudan in Gura Valley, Eritrea
02:28
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124
Migrant workers from Sudan in Gura Valley, Eritrea
02:49
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125
Mahafaly man with percussion, stringed instrument, Madagascar
02:28
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126
Richard Abé Brown Band with Oblesia Green
02:42
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127
Male chorus with percussion, stringed instrument
03:00
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128
Bulu male singer with mixed chorus
01:56
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129
Ewe male singer with chorus, drums, percussion
02:37
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130
Two Bambara flute players with iron bell, drum
02:18
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131
Acoli man with nyatiti, Uganda
03:02
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132
Mboko zither-harp players
01:33
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133
Bakweri man with musical bow
01:05
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134
Makua women
01:43
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135
Boungome woman with female chorus and drum
03:30
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136
Babinga voices with percussion
01:48
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137
Wolof drummers playing sabar, tama, and hin drums
01:32
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138
Wolof man playing xalam
03:15