Traditional music in Africa

As technology and globalisation continue to dominate how music is created and inspired, it's probable that many traditional music forms will be lost forever. That is why there are a number of organisations working intensively to archive traditional music for tomorrow's generations to learn from, especially in Africa where there are thousands of musical cultures on the verge of extinction at any given time. This work is done by individuals who understand the importance of preserving the continent's folk history, sometimes in the face of small or nonexistent budgets, and little credit for their efforts.

Many traditional musicians are also finding it increasingly difficult to make a living without having to switch to creating more mainstream music, although there are various communities in Africa that prefer listening to traditional music and in the process support the musicians who create it.

At Music In Africa we try our very best to give traditional music the exposure it deserves by publishing Overviews about the various genres that exist on the continent and by covering events that programme traditional musicians.

We also conduct activities such as the Traditional Instrument Building and Repair Workshop in the hope that the precarious knowledge associated with traditional music isn’t lost to aspiring instrument makers.

Below is content that is in line with our traditional music editorial policy. Visit this page daily for news, features and research articles as the month of June progresses.

Traditional music News & Features

• Uganda: Bayimba festival announces 2019 line-up
• Call for nominations: 2019 South African Traditional Music Awards
• Rwanda: Jules Sentore to pay homage to gakondo music
• The beauty of Walter Koga's nyatiti stories
• Call for applications: Sauti za Busara 2020

Traditional music Overviews

• Mohobelo music in Lesotho
• Traditional music in Mozambique
• Traditional music and instruments in Botswana
• Traditional pop in Botswana
• Ts’iloana and ei-ei music in Lesotho
• Somali music through the ages
• Preserving musical heritage in South Sudan
• Folk music in Northern Nigeria
• Traditional music in Rwanda
• Traditional music in Uganda
• Traditional music in Tanzania
• Traditional music in Madagascar
• Traditional music in Northern Nigeria
• Traditional music in southern Nigeria
• Traditional music in Congo-Brazzaville
• Traditional music in South Africa
• Traditional music in Cameroon
• Traditional music in Zimbabwe
• Traditional music in Lesotho
• Musical instruments of Lesotho
• Traditional music in Chad
• Traditional music in Zambia
• Traditional music in Swaziland
• Traditional music in Mauritius
• Traditional music in Eritrea
• Traditional music in Ethiopia
• Traditional music in Benin
• Traditional music in Togo
• Traditional music in Ghana
• Traditional music in the Gambia

Also be sure to check out the Music In Africa directory

• Music education directory
• Archive directory
• Culture development directory