Afro-Sonics is a term that refers to the diverse range of musical and sound practices, traditions, and auditory cultures deep rooted in African and Afro-diasporic lives and experiences. It encompasses many traditional aspects of African music whilst also the more contemporary aspects like Hip Hop or Afro-futurism. Prior to the lecture I was aware of multiple different forms of Afro-Sonics, however not all and so it was really interesting to learn about them in a chronological structure, understanding the relationships between different genres of music as well as hearing and acknowledging the links between them. In this blog I have just involved the aspects I was previously unaware of to help better my understanding of them.
The ring shout
The ring shout is a Christian religious expression practiced by enslaved africans during the period of slavery. It is a kind of call and response, involving multiple people, some clapping their hands to create the beat, some using wooden sticks, whilst others sing and dance to the rhythm- often moving in a circle. There is a folkloric explanation that says the term “shout” comes from an older West African word meaning “to move in a circle.”
The ring shout was used as a kind of resistance, helping to preserve their African cultures under the strict, ruthless conditions of slavery. It was a way of recognising values that were shared between their different communities before being enslaved, values such as; ancestor worship, contact, communication and teaching through storytelling. Having watched videos of ring shout performances, the sheer importance and power of the music was immediately evident. You were able to understand the culture significance the music held, as well as the raw side to it.
Underground Railroad Songs
Underground Railroad Songs were used by enslaved African Americans to communicate secret messages about escape routes, safe houses, and plans to flee slavery via the Underground Railroad system. This was a secret network of routes, safe houses, and allies willing to help slaves escape from plantations is the South, to freedom in the North of America and Canada, mostly during the 19th century. The songs sang carried hidden, deeper meanings of the path to freedom. Not all carried hidden meanings, some were used expressions of faith and community, they had more of a spiritual meaning.
Some famous songs include;
- “Wade in the Water” – Warned escapees to travel through water to throw off tracking dogs.
- “Follow the Drinking Gourd” – Gave directions using the stars (the “Drinking Gourd” was the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star).
- “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” – Symbolised hope, freedom, and the desire for deliverance.
Maroon music
The word Maroon refers to slaves who escaped and created their own independent communities within remote areas of Jamaica, Suriname, Brazil, and the United States. The term comes from the Spanish word ‘cimarrón’ meaning wild or untamed, which was used to describe the escaped slaves.
Maroon music strongly links back to their African roots, involving traditional techniques and rhythms, however also evolved into a unique thing as it had a blend of influences. Maroon music uses mostly drums and other percussive instruments to create those more traditional rhythms. Similarly to The Ring Shout, Maroon music is call and response as many African-derived music forms were often performed in groups. Music was often accompanied by dance or ritual performances, as Maroon music was also a religious expression. These dances helped strengthen communities and preserve the African cultures.
Afro-futurism
Afro-futurism is a movement that blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, and African culture to reimagine the future of Black people. It combines technology, space exploration, and speculative narratives with African traditions and cultures, creating a vision of the future that centres around black experiences and identities.
From my understanding, one of the main themes behind Afro-futurism is this idea of reclaiming identity. Having been snatched of their own history and ancestry knowledge, bloodlines of enslaved Africans lost the connection to their past and this idea of ‘home’, and so began to think of their future. The concept involves the use of technology and this kind of sci-fi future as metaphors for freedom, transformation, or alienation.
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