Africans accuse African Americans of "appropriating" their culture (legitimate criticism?)

[Samori Toure]

What traditional or ceremonial music have you listened to?

In that song I posted from dele ojo were there basslines? Apart from the funk influenced stuff like that fourth song I posted from that Nigeria compilation album I don't recall that many basslines in a lot of the African music I've listened to

Horns and flutes (of different types from European ones) were in Africa already. I don't know whats western or african american about using aerophones but the Africans today using western aerophones are doing so because of colonialism and westernizing though some still use traditional aerophones

On bars, keys, notes lots of African music, especially in the past was/is not afrobeat (like fela) or like funk

But still im not truly convinced of why I should believe the songs I posted are all derivative of R&b. I would like a thorougher explanation if you guys can give one

Yes those horns and flutes were in Africa already. Those instruments are not from Europe. They are from ancient Egypt.

Wind Instruments

 

[Lost1]

I mentioned in my post that in those first couple of songs that he sounded a lot like Bluesmen Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. He definitely was singing a version of Delta Blues. Hell his own album cover says "Afro Sounds and Nigerian Blues" so he is clearly borrowing concepts from African American music. It is all good. At least he didn't water it down like White people do.

The songs are by four different groups

The album cover is a compilation album cover made long after they had released their music and not by them and includes music of various styles. They don't all fit all of the genres mentioned on the cover

I genuinely don't think oja omoba (as one example) sounds much like delta blues but maybe because they're both using string instruments and singing there might be a few things that sound alike

 

[Lost1]

ok man

I'm not trying to be a denial artist or anything I just dont see the supposed R&B or pop root of a lot of that older African music

 

[Poitier]

Yes those horns and flutes were in Africa already. Those instruments are not from Europe. They are from ancient Egypt.

Wind Instruments

Not in West Africa, though. And North Africa didn't have horn sections.

 

[Poitier]

I'm not trying to be a denial artist or anything I just dont see the supposed R&B or pop root of a lot of that older African music

This stuff is in every music history class

 

[Lost1]

Not in West Africa, though.

You can't be serious

 

[Lost1]

This stuff is in every music history class

Well I looked around and I didn't see articles or books that support that idea so perhaps the people teaching these classes are just making some of it up as they go? Had a professor kind of like that once

 

[Poitier]

You can't be serious

I'm very serious. West Africans (not counting Tuaregs) don't have horn sections.



I don't know why you keep playing dumb.

 

[Poitier]

Well I looked around and I didn't see articles or books that support that idea

Yeah African music is a footnote, most modern music classes center around the AA tradition.

 

[Lost1]

I'm very serious. West Africans (not counting Tuaregs) don't have horn sections.



I don't know why you keep playing dumb.

Nobody's playing dumb

I think you should read more about instead of just looking for a video from one country which is not even representative of the traditional music of that entire country

Atenteben - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osibisaba: Funeral Dirges from Ghana: Atenteben & Odurugya Flutes

That's just for Ghana though I could mention other countries too

 

[Lost1]

Yeah African music is a footnote, most modern music classes center around the AA tradition.

Modern music classes in the West on American popular music yes

 

[Poitier]

Nobody's playing dumb

I think you should read more about instead of just looking for a video from one country which is not even representative of the traditional music of that entire country

Atenteben - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osibisaba: Funeral Dirges from Ghana: Atenteben & Odurugya Flutes

That's just for Ghana though I could mention other countries too

In the first two videos, dirges are played on theatenteben, a diatonic bamboo flute which was developed by composer/professor Dr. Ephraim Amu in the 1920/30s. The atenteben also appears in highlife music, from '70s bands Wulomei and Hedzoleh Soundz to modern groups like Hewale Sounds and the Pan-African Orchestra.

 

[Poitier]

Don't you hear the horns, bass, guitars and synths guys

 

[Lost1]

In the first two videos, dirges are played on theatenteben, a diatonic bamboo flute which was developed by composer/professor Dr. Ephraim Amu in the 1920/30s. The atenteben also appears in highlife music, from '70s bands Wulomei and Hedzoleh Soundz to modern groups like Hewale Sounds and the Pan-African Orchestra.

Did you read the articles? They already had it; he just further developed it and popularized it

But anyway there is another flute mentioned besides that one so I don't get why you're "dead" from that post

I really don't get your obstinacy about this

 

[Poitier]

Did you read the articles? They already had it; he just further developed it and popularized it

Quote the article stating flutes existed in Ghana before 1900 and post videos of flute sections for songs.