Yesterday (July 13, 2011), we had class on music within the townships. And the class was titled “Protest Music: An Exploration of its Manifestation in Township Jazz and Freedom Songs”. And the class was very interesting. As Apartheid tried to define the township’s people identity, many began to fight against it through their creation of their own music, with their own voices. Many saw their creation of music as a way out of hardships and oppression of Apartheid. It became known as jazz. We learned many of the musicians began to mimic the sounds of jazz in America. Similar to how African American used their music to conquer the oppression of segregation. In fact, many saw the Black struggle in America as a mentoring factor. So, some of the musicians began to take on American characteristics without any of their traditional African music incorporated within it. Many proud themselves on taking on American characteristics while others felt that it should have a more African tradition feel to it. The Africans thought of the African Americans in American as “brothers in arms who had already, at least to an extent, manage to loosen the shackles of oppression” (From the lecture) In addition, American jazz was chosen because of its rhythm and its emphasis on improvisation, which gives a nudge to African roots. Marabi is the term for it, and it simply means a combination of ragtime and American music. It started in the 1900s and it developed in shebeens, places where illegal alcohol was made, (which are equivalent to where Moonshine was created in America). The lyrics would have political commentary and protest. After the shebeens were closed in 1923, because of the Urban Areas Act or Natives Land Act of 1923, marabi began to slow down. In the 1930s through the early 1940s much American influence reached township jazz through the records and American films. And around 1945, the tightening of the laws got more difficult for the African people. The African people had to be in by 10 pm, which made it very difficult for Africans to perform in white bars. After this, many African began to have an ‘Africanism’ movement and created what they called “Mbaqanga”. And from the 1950s to the present, we get the Bebop music. Bebop was created as an improvisation on the chords rather than the melody. This was a way for the South Africans to move away from the Western music. This is a great way for South Africans to break away and become interdependent away from this westernized mentality. It’s a way of liberation from oppression, and from that oppression you become strong and create your own identity. Through the class I learned so much history about the struggles and how they combated those struggles. It was very rewarding to me. I also meet one of my new favorite female vocalists. Her name is Miriam Makeba. Her voice is outstanding. (If you can look her up, please do!)
Also in class we sang. We sang the actual lyrics to Africa’s National Anthem. It was quite amazing. I felt a since of pride singing South Africa’s National Anthem. Chills went up my spine that’s how impacting it was. We also sang another song entitled “London Burning”. It was good stuff.
Later that day we went back into the townships and listen to some of the actual protest music, and it was like WOW. The music was so pleasant and beautiful to my ears. They performed about 8 to 10 numbers for us and each one of them were EXCELLENT!!!! Our professor from class actually went with us to show us exactly what she had taught us; all of us were excited to hear the beautiful tunes. We even met some of the musicians who we learned about in class and that were probably the best.
The venue in which the concert was held in was in a little shack. It was so small that only about one person could go in a time. However, the rest of us stood outside the door. While standing outside the door there was this family of children standing with us. I got a chance to play and converse with them. It was amazing. I hugged them; played hand games, and wrote in the dirt with them. They all seemed so happy and content. Although, I wanted to give them so much more than what they had. One little girl was about 2 years old and her name was Choo Choo (like the train). She was so adorable, vivacious, and pretty. I wanted to take her back home with me. Gosh, I miss her as I’m writing this.
After leaving the actual townships, we stopped back at Jaya’s Jazz Tavern. When we arrived there we had traditional African dancers to greet us. I was SO excited. Since I arrived, I’ve always wanted to see some traditional African dancing. The group was outstanding. And once we were in they did about 3 more dances for us. There were also interactive dances and those were my favorite. We danced and danced and danced, and it was fun, fun, and more fun.
While at the tavern, I had a striking and compelling conversation with my professor about Apartheid. That conversation placed chills up my spine. My professor is a White middle-aged woman. She told me that she grew up in a church that taught her that Apartheid was right and the way of life. She said that she was taught that God did not like Blacks and Whites mixing together. She said she always knew it didn’t sound right, but she went along with it until her adulthood. After becoming an adult, she questioned what she was taught and freed herself from it. I am so exceptionally proud of her. The only thing that I fear is how many more people who grew up in that system who still believe that God doesn’t approve of Whites and Blacks mingling together. I feel for them; however I am so proud of my professor.
It gave me a tangible example of racism being taught. It reinforces the idea that our tour guide Bradley said that racism is a mindset. It most definitely is. This was a very blatant example, however I still think about those subtle examples of racism being taught. Not only how racism is taught, but how classism, ageism, homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, and etc are taught to our children. We have to change things. We’re the generation, we can’t afford to wait.
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